title: Shorter sperm telomere length in association with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Results from the MARHCS cohort study in Chongqing, China and in vivo animal experiments.
abstract: It has been well demonstrated that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can cause reproductive toxicity, and shorter telomere length in sperm may be one of the factors causing male infertility. However, whether exposure to PAHs is associated with sperm telomere length (STL) has never been evaluated. The present study aimed to assess the potential association between PAHs exposure and STL, and to explore potential biomarkers that may predict the effects of low-level exposure to PAHs on human sperm. Questionnaires and biological samples were collected from 666 volunteers participating in the Male Reproductive Health in Chongqing College Students (MARHCS) cohort study in 2014. Semen parameters were measured for 656 participants, while urinary PAH metabolites, STL and sperm apoptosis were successfully measured for 492, 444 and 628 participants, respectively. The linear regression analysis revealed that increased levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPyr) and 1-hydroxynapthalene (1-OHNap) were associated with decreased STL (-0.385; 95% CI, -0.749, -0.021 for 1-OHPyr; and -0.079; 95% CI, -0.146, -0.011 for 1-OHNap). The significant negative associations remained after adjusting for potential confounders. However, no significant associations were observed between urinary PAH metabolites and semen quality or sperm apoptosis. We also administrated rats with benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P; 0, 1, 5, and 10mg/kg) for 4weeks and found shorter STL and decreased telomerase expression in germ cells in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, environmental exposure to some PAHs may be associated with decreased human STL, and the in vivo animal results also demonstrate the adverse effects of B[a]P on telomere of male germ cells.
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Ling
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Guowei
authors: G
authors: Zhang
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Chen
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Huan
authors: H
authors: Yang
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Sun
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Niya
authors: N
authors: Zhou
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Zhi
authors: Z
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Zou
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Xiaogang
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Zhihong
authors: Z
authors: Cui
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Jinyi
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: aolin117@163.com.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Ao
authors: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: caojia1962@126.com.
authors: Jia
authors: J
authors: Cao
mesh_terms: D032761:Animal Experimentation; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D002681:China; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D011721:Pyrenes; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012661:Semen; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013334:Students; D016615:Telomere / Q000187:drug effects*; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene
keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; Semen quality; Sperm telomere length; Telomerase; Urinary metabolites