title: Alleviative effect of quercetin on germ cells intoxicated by 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol from diesel exhaust particles.
abstract: As a component of diesel exhaust particles, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (4-nitro-m-cresol, PNMC) is also a metabolite of the insecticide fenitrothion and imposes hazardous effects on human health. In the present study, the alleviative effect of a common antioxidant flavonoid quercetin on mouse germ cells intoxicated by PNMC was investigated. Results showed that a single intraperitoneal injection of PNMC at 100 mg/kg induced severe testicular damage after one week. PNMC-treated mice showed a significant loss of germ cells (approximate 40% loss of round germ cells). PNMC caused an increase of hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide production and lipid peroxidation, as well as a decrease in glutathione level, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Furthermore, treatment of PNMC increased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-XL in germ cells. In addition, testicular caspase-3 activity was significantly up-regulated and germ cell apoptosis was significantly increased in the PNMC-treated mice. In contrast, combined administration of quercetin at 75 mg/kg significantly attenuated PNMC-induced testicular toxicity. These results indicate that the antioxidant quercetin displays a remarkable protective effect on PNMC-induced oxidative damage in mouse testes and may represent an efficient supplement to attenuate reproductive toxicity by environmental toxicants to ensure healthy sperm production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Tong-liang
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.forename: Yu-dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Jin-xing
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yu-ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Cai-qiao
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003408:Cresols / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D003408:Cresols; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; C008636:4-nitro-3-cresol; D011794:Quercetin