title: Abnormalities in the male reproductive system after exposure to diesel and biodiesel blend.
abstract: Altering the fuel source from petroleum-based ultralow sulfur diesel to biodiesel and its blends is considered by many to be a sustainable choice for controlling exposures to particulate material. As the exhaust of biodiesel/diesel blends is composed of a combination of combustion products of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and fatty acid methyl esters, we hypothesize that 50% biodiesel/diesel blend (BD50) exposure could induce harmful outcomes because of its ability to trigger oxidative damage. Here, adverse effects were compared in murine male reproductive organs after pharyngeal aspiration with particles generated by engine fueled with BD50 or neat petroleum diesel (D100). When compared with D100, exposure to BD50 significantly altered sperm integrity, including concentration, motility, and morphological abnormalities, as well as increasing testosterone levels in testes during the time course postexposure. Serum level of luteinizing hormone was significantly depleted only after BD50 exposure. Moreover, we observed that exposure to BD50 significantly increased sperm DNA fragmentation and the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines in the serum and testes on Day 7 postexposure when compared with D100. Histological evaluation of testes sections from BD50 exposure indicated more noticeable interstitial edema, degenerating spermatocytes, and dystrophic seminiferous tubules with arrested spermatogenesis. Significant differences in the level of oxidative stress assessed by accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and depletion of glutathione were detected on exposure to respirable BD50 and D100. Taken together, these results indicate that exposure of mice to inhalable BD50 caused more pronounced adverse effects on male reproductive function than diesel.
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Physiology Research Branch, and Exposure Assessment Branch, HELD, NIOSH, Morgantown, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Elena R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Kisin
authors.forename: Naveena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yanamala
authors.forename: Mariana T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Farcas
authors.forename: Dmitriy W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Gutkin
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shurin
authors.forename: Valerian E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Kagan
authors.forename: Aleksandar D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bugarski
authors.forename: Anna A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shvedova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056804:Biofuels / Q000009:adverse effects*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005742:Gasoline / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000009:adverse effects; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005742:Gasoline; D010578:Petroleum; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: DNA fragmentation; biodiesel particles; male reproduction; oxidative stress; pulmonary exposure; sperm quality