title: Decreased spermatogenesis led to alterations of testis-specific gene expression in male mice following nano-TiO2 exposure.
abstract: Although TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) exposure has been demonstrated to cross blood-testis barrier and accumulate in the testis resulting in the reduction of sperm numbers, limited data with respect to the molecular mechanism of decreased spermatogenesis caused by TiO2 NP exposure. In this research, testicular damage, sperm number and alterations in testis-specific gene expressions in male mice induced by intragastric administration with TiO2 NPs for six months were investigated. It was found out that TiO2 NPs could migrate to cells, deposit in the testis and epididymis and thus cause damages to relevant organs, which are, to be more specific, the reductions of total sperm concentrations and sperm motility and an enhancement in the number of abnormal sperms in the cauda epididymis. Furthermore, the individual expression regarding to the mRNAs and proteins of testis-specific genes, including Cdc2, Cyclin B1, Dmcl, TERT, Tesmin, TESP-1, XPD and XRCCI, were significantly declined, whereas Gsk3-β and PGAM4 expressions were greatly elevated in mouse testis due to the exposures, which in fact implied that the reduced spermatogenesis may be involved in the alternated testis-specific gene expressions in those exposed male mice.
authors: Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China; School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China. Electronic address: hfshui666@126.com.
authors: Fashui
authors: F
authors: Hong
authors: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors: Xiaoyang
authors: X
authors: Zhao
authors: Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Animal Products Processing and Quality Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Suzhou Polytechnic Institute of Agriculture, Suzhou 215008, China.
authors: Wenhui
authors: W
authors: Si
authors: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors: Yuguan
authors: Y
authors: Ze
authors: Library of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China; School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China.
authors: Yingjun
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
authors: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Hong
authors: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors: Xiaohong
authors: X
authors: Yu
authors: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Sheng
authors: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Liu
authors: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors: Bingqing
authors: B
authors: Xu
authors: Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Animal Products Processing and Quality Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: nau_zjh@njau.edu.cn.
authors: Jianhao
authors: J
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014025:Titanium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Mice; Spermatogenesis; Testis-specific genes; Titanium dioxide nanoparticles