Toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1254) on human sperm motility.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are common environmental contaminants that represent a considerable risk to reproductive toxicity in exposed human populations. Although some experimental studies have suggested an association between the levels of PCBs and semen quality, the direct effects of PCBs on human sperm parameters remain largely unexplored. To this aim, a short-term in vitro incubation experiment that better imitated the putative exposure of sperm to Aroclor 1254 (a commercial PCB mixture) in male reproduction tissue was conducted. Human sperm were incubated with various concentrations (0, 1, 5, or 25 mg l-1) of Aroclor 1254 for different amounts of time (3 and 6 h) in vitro. Sperm motility parameters were analyzed with computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). The proportion of sperm with high mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected to explore the probable cause of sperm impairment. Human sperm exposed to continuous Aroclor 1254 exhibited: (i) reduced sperm motility and kinematic parameters, (ii) a proportion of sperm with high ΔΨm that decreased in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05), and (iii) increased levels of ROS compared with controls (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Aroclor 1254 can decrease sperm motility, which may culminate in increased ROS and general mitochondrial dysfunction, thus affecting the fertilization potential of sperm. Our findings suggest a broader understanding of the effect of Aroclor 1254 on human sperm.
Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China.
Li-Gang
LG
Jiang
Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China.
Lai-Yang
LY
Cheng
College of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China.
Shu-Hui
SH
Kong
Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China.
Yang
Y
Yang
Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China.
Yan-Jun
YJ
Shen
Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China.
Chao
C
Chen
Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China.
Xiao-Hui
XH
Deng
Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China.
Shu-Zhen
SZ
Liu
Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China.
Lan
L
Chao
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine) / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine)