Impairment on sperm quality and fertility of adult rats after antiandrogen exposure during prepuberty.
This study evaluated the effects of antiandrogen exposure during the prepubertal period on reproductive development and reproductive competence in adults. Male rats were divided into two groups: flutamide, receiving 25 mg/kg/day of flutamide by oral gavage and control, receiving vehicle daily. Dosing continued from PND 21 to 44, and animals were killed on PND 50 or PND 75-80. The epididymis, prostate, vas deferens and seminal vesicle weights were lower in Flutamide group on PND 50, while on PND 80 only seminal vesicle weight was reduced. Fertility assessed by IUI revealed a decrease in the fertility potential in the flutamide-treated adults. Flutamide accelerated sperm transit time through the epididymis, impairing sperm motility and storage. A quantitative analysis of the cauda sperm membrane proteome revealed a few significant changes in protein expression. Thus, exposure to flutamide during the prepubertal period compromises the function of the epididymis along with epididymal sperm quality at adulthood.
Graduate Program in Cellular and Structural Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil. jperobelli@gmail.com
Juliana Elaine
JE
Perobelli
Thaís Regina
TR
Alves
Fabíola Choqueta
FC
de Toledo
Carla Dal Bianco
CD
Fernandez
Janete A
JA
Anselmo-Franci
Gary R
GR
Klinefelter
Wilma De Grava
Wde G
Kempinas
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D005485:Flutamide / Q000633:toxicity*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D013739:Testosterone; D005485:Flutamide; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone