title: Long-term adverse effects on reproductive function in male rats exposed prenatally to the glucocorticoid betamethasone.
abstract: Betamethasone is the drug of choice for antenatal treatment, promoting fetal lung maturation, decreasing the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome and neonatal mortality. Previous studies reported that prenatal treatment with this drug reduced testosterone levels, sperm quality and fertility in adult rats. We aimed to further evaluate the reproductive consequences of prenatal betamethasone exposure in male rats. Pregnant Wistar rats (n=13/group) were separated into two groups: control (vehicle) and betamethasone- treated (0.1mg/kg IM) and rats were injected on gestational days 12, 13, 18 and 19. Body weight, sexual behavior, reproductive organ weights, serum hormone levels, accessory glands contractility, sperm parameters, and fertility after in utero artificial insemination were evaluated. Our results showed that prenatal betamethasone exposure provoked a significant reduction in body weight at PND 01 and, at adulthood, decrease in FSH levels, sperm motility and production. Furthermore, seminal vesicle weight was decreased while testicular and ventral prostate weights were increased. Serum LH levels and the percentage of abnormal sperm were significantly increased. Although sexual behavior was not altered, a significant reduction in fertility in the adult rats exposed prenatally to betamethasone was noted. We concluded that prenatal betamethasone exposure leads to long-term reproductive impairment in male rats. These results may have important implications for humans, considering the use of this glucocorticoid in pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior s/n°, 18618-689 Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: cibelesantosborges@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cibele Dos S
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Departments of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior s/n°, 18618-689 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Flávia M G
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Departments of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior s/n°, 18618-689 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departments of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior s/n°, 18618-689 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josiane Lima
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Departments of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior s/n°, 18618-689 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marina T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Departments of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior s/n°, 18618-689 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior s/n°, 18618-689 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Ricardo A
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Kiguti
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior s/n°, 18618-689 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: André S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Pupo
authors.affiliation: Departments of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior s/n°, 18618-689 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wilma De G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Kempinas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001623:Betamethasone
keywords: Betamethasone; Fertility; Fetal programming; Sexual glands contractility; Sperm quality