title: Decreased androgen receptor expression may contribute to spermatogenesis failure in rats exposed to low concentration of bisphenol A.
abstract: To investigate the effects of a low bisphenol A (BPA) concentration on male reproduction, adult rats were administered a concentration of BPA that was less than the no observable adverse effect level (0.0005-5 mg/kg/bw) for 8 weeks. General toxicity, reproductive hormones, and spermatogenesis were then determined. The expression of genes related to hormone synthesis and spermatogenesis was also analyzed. These BPA concentrations generated no general toxicity and no significant changes on serum hormones. However, the testicular testosterone, hormone synthesis-related genes StAR and Cyp450scc increased, whereas 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD, and Cyp450arom decreased. Additionally, BPA significantly decreased the epithelial height and round spermatids in seminiferous tubules, sperm count, androgen receptor expression, and the expression of the spermatogenesis-related genes outer dense fiber protein 1 (ODF1) and transition protein 1. Our results indicate that a low BPA concentration can induce spermatogenesis disorders mainly through decreasing androgen receptor expression. The present results may bring attention to the risk of environmental BPA exposure.
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, PR China.
authors.forename: Liang-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xu-hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yubang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xinru
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shou-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000633:toxicity*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D010636:Phenols; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds