title: Interferences of an environmental pollutant with estrogen-like action in the male reproductive system of the terrestrial vertebrate Podarcis sicula.
abstract: Nonylphenol (NP) is classified among the endocrine disruptor chemicals with estrogen-like properties. It is widely used in many industries and to dilute pesticides in agriculture, and is known to affect the reproductive system of many aquatic and semi-aquatic organisms. This study aimed to verify how NP, administered via food and water, may interfere with the reproductive cycle of a terrestrial vertebrate. Our model was the male Italian wall lizard Podarcis sicula, a seasonal breeding species that may be naturally exposed to environmental pollution. From our findings it emerges that an NP-polluted diet administered during the mating period causes in this lizard a slowdown of spermatogenesis and affects the testicular and epididymal structure, making it similar to that of the non-reproductive period. The distribution in the testis and epididymis of mRNA for steroid hormone receptors, i.e., estrogen α and β and androgen receptors, was also investigated. NP treatment inhibits the expression of AR, ERα, and ERβ-mRNA in spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes and causes a switch-off of the secretory activity of the epididymal corpus by inducing the expression of ERα.
authors: Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: ilaria.verderame@unina.it.
authors: Mariailaria
authors: M
authors: Verderame
authors: Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: limatola@unina.it.
authors: Ermelinda
authors: E
authors: Limatola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006652:Histological Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008116:Lizards / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004967:Estrogens; D010636:Phenols; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; C025256:nonylphenol
keywords: Epididymis; Nonylphenol; Reptiles; Steroid receptors; Testis