title: Fine particulate matter leads to reproductive impairment in male rats by overexpressing phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway.
abstract: Maintenance of male reproductive function depends on normal sperm generation during which process Sertoli cells play a vital role. Studies found that fine particulate matter (PM) causes decreased male sperm quality, mechanism of which unestablished. We aim to investigate the definite mechanism of PM impairment on male reproduction. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were daily exposed to normal saline (NS) or PM2.5 with the doses of 9 mg/kg.b.w and 24 mg/kg.b.w. via intratracheal instillation for seven weeks. Reproductive function was tested by mating test and semen analysis after last exposure. Testes were collected to assess changes in histomorphology, and biomarkers including connexin 43 (Cx43), superoxide dismutase (SOD), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt). Male rats exposed to PM2.5 showed noticeable decreased fertility, significantly reduced sperm count, increased sperm abnormality rate and severe testicular damage in histomorphology. After PM2.5 exposure, the levels of Cx43 was significantly downregulated, and SOD was upregulated and downregulated significantly with different dose, respectively. Protein expression of PI3K and p-Akt dramatically enhanced, and the later one being located in Sertoli cells, the upward or declining trend was in dose dependent. PM2.5 exposure leads to oxidative stress impairment via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway on male reproduction in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Urology Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Xi-Ning
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Urology Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Urology Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Dong-Yao
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Urology Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Pu
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Urology Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Urology Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Urology Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Lan
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Urology Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Da-Wei
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Urology Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Urology Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: kafei69200@126.com.
authors.forename: Lian-Ju
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Urology Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: ghwei1963@163.com.
authors.forename: Guang-Hui
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001814:Blood-Testis Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; C580592:Gja1 protein, rat; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
keywords: Male reproduction; Oxidative stress; PI3K/Akt; Particulate matter; Testis