Effects of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) on chicken germ cells cultured in vitro.
In recent decades, many toxicological tests based on in vivo or in vitro models, mainly from mammalian (rat-mouse) and fish species, were used to assess the risks raised by contact or ingestion of molecules of pharmaceutical, agricultural, or natural origin. But no, or few, in vitro tests using other non-mammalian models such as bird have been explored despite their advantages: the embryonic gonads of birds have a high plasticity of development sensitive to estrogen, and sperm production is nearly two times faster than in rodents. Hence, we have established an in vitro culture of germ cells and somatic cells from chicken post-natal testis, and we have evaluated the sensitivity against the endocrine disruptor compound mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) in comparison to previous studies using rodent and human models. After 96 h of exposure in presence of 10 μM MEHP, chicken seminiferous tubules cultures present a structural alteration, a reduction in cell proliferation and in germ cells population. Apoptosis of germ and somatic cells increases in presence of 1 μM MEHP. Furthermore, MEHP does not affect inhibin B and lactate production by Sertoli cells. These results are in accordance with previous studies using rat, mice, or human culture of testicular cells and in similar range of exposures or even better sensitivity for some "end-points" (biological parameters). In conclusion, the establishment of this postnatal testicular cells culture could be considered as an alternative method to in vivo experiments frequently used for evaluating the impact on the terrestrial wildlife species. This method could be also complementary to mammal model due to the limiting number of animals used and its elevated sensitivity.
UMR 6175 INRA CNRS Université de Tours Haras Nationaux Physiologie de Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
Edith
E
Guibert
Bérénice
B
Prieur
Ronan
R
Cariou
Frédérique
F
Courant
Jean Philippe
JP
Antignac
Bertrand
B
Pain
Jean Pierre
JP
Brillard
Pascal
P
Froment
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; C422364:inhibin B; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007265:Inhibins; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; C016599:mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate