title: Fluoride exposure changed the structure and the expressions of reproductive related genes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis of male mice.
abstract: Numerous studies have shown that fluoride exposure adversely affected the male reproductive function, while the molecular mechanism is not clear. The present study was to investigate the effects of fluoride exposure (60 days) on the expressions of reproductive related genes, serum sex hormone levels and structures of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA), which plays a vital role in regulating the spermatogenesis in male mice. In this study, 48 male mice were administrated with 0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/L NaF through drinking water. Results showed that the malformation ratio of sperm was significantly increased (P<0.05). At transcriptional level, the expression levels of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), inhibin alpha (INHα), inhibin beta-B (INHβB), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) mRNA in testis were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Moreover, histological lesions in testis and ultrastructural alterations in hypothalamus, pituitary and testis were obvious. However, the same fluoride exposure did not lead to significant changes of related mRNA expressions in hypothalamus and pituitary (P>0.05). Also, there were no marked changes in serum hormones. Taken together, we conclude that the mechanism of HPTA dysfunction is mainly elucidated through affecting testes, and its effect on hypothalamus and pituitary was secondary at exposure for 60 days.
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zilong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, People's Republic of China; School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guangying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, People's Republic of China; Center of Medical Experiment, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712046, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ruifen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: wangjd53@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Jundong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005459:Fluorides / Q000633:toxicity*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000633:toxicity*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010710:Phosphates; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D010710:Phosphates; C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; C012980:fluorophosphate; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D005459:Fluorides
keywords: Fluoride; Gene expression; Hypothalamus–pituitary–testicular axis; Male reproduction; Structure