title: Zearalenone and 17 β-estradiol induced damages in male rats reproduction potential; evidence for ERα and ERβ receptors expression and steroidogenesis.
abstract: The estrogen receptors (ERs)-dependent effects of Zearalenone (ZEA) on structure and function of the testis as well as sperm parameters were compared with 17-β estradiol as endogenous substance. For this purpose, 30 mature male rats were assigned into five groups as; control (appropriate volume of normal saline, i. p.), ZEA-received (1, 2 and 4 mg/kg, b. w., i. p.) and 17 β-estradiol (E2)-received (appropriate dose of 0.1 mg/kg, i. p.). Following 28 days, the mRNA levels of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in the testis and sperms and the expression of them at protein levels in testicles were estimated. Mitochondrial content of germinal epithelium, Leydig cells steroid foci, sperm quality parameters and serum level of testosterone were assessed. Fluorescent techniques were used for analyzing apoptosis and mRNA damage in necrotic cells. ZEA reduced the mRNA and protein levels of ERα in testicles while up-regulated the ERβ expression. The mRNA level of ERα decreased in sperms of ZEA and E2-received animals. No remarkable changes were found for ERβ expression in sperms from ZEA and E2-received animals. ZEA reduced the Leydig cells steroidogenesis, mitochondrial content of germinal cells and elevated cellular apoptosis and necrosis dose-dependently. E2 reduced the testosterone concentration, enhanced the apoptosis and reduced sperm quality. Our data suggest that ZEA-induced detrimental effects in the structure and function of testis, may attribute to changing the ERs expression at mRNA and translational level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box: 1177, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Elmira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adibnia
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box: 1177, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. Electronic address: Mazdak.razi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mazdak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Razi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box: 1177, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malekinejad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000633:toxicity*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D013256:Steroids; D004958:Estradiol; D015025:Zearalenone; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA
keywords: 17 β-estradiol; Apoptosis; Estrogen receptors; Sperm quality; Zearalenone