Maternal lead exposure during lactation persistently impairs testicular development and steroidogenesis in male offspring.
Lead (Pb) is a testicular toxicant. In the present study, we investigated the effects of maternal Pb exposure during lactation on testicular development and steroidogenesis in male offspring. Maternal mice were exposed to different concentration of lead acetate (200 or 2000 ppm) through drinking water from postnatal day (PND) 0 to PND21. As expected, a high concentration of Pb was measured in the kidneys and liver of pups whose mothers were exposed to Pb during lactation. In addition, maternal Pb exposure during lactation elevated, to a less extent, Pb content in testes of weaning pups. Testis weight in weaning pups was significantly decreased when maternal mice were exposed to Pb during lactation. The level of serum and testicular T was reduced in Pb-exposed pups. The expression of P450scc, P450(17α) and 17β-HSD, key enzymes for T synthesis, was down-regulated in testes of weaning pups whose mothers were exposed to Pb during lactation. Interestingly, the level of serum and testicular T remained decreased in adult offspring whose mothers were exposed to Pb during lactation. Importantly, the number of spermatozoa was significantly reduced in Pb-exposed male offspring. Taken together, these results suggest that Pb could be transported from dams to pups through milk. Maternal Pb exposure during lactation persistently disrupts testicular development and steroidogenesis in male offspring.
Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
Hua
H
Wang
Yan-Li
YL
Ji
Qun
Q
Wang
Xian-Feng
XF
Zhao
Huan
H
Ning
Ping
P
Liu
Cheng
C
Zhang
Tao
T
Yu
Ying
Y
Zhang
Xiu-Hong
XH
Meng
De-Xiang
DX
Xu
D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D007854:Lead / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014886:Weaning
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D007854:Lead; D013739:Testosterone; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; C008261:lead acetate