Lactational exposure effect of polychlorinated biphenyl on rat Sertoli cell markers and functional regulators in prepuberal and puberal F1offspring.
OBJECTIVE
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent and bioaccumulative environmental toxicants acting as endocrine disruptors. Many researches evidenced that PCBs affect the male reproductive system in adult rats and it can transfer from mother to offspring through milk. We investigated whether the lactational exposure to PCBs affects the Sertoli cell function in F1offspring.


METHODS
Dams were orally treated with different doses of PCB-Aroclor 1254 (1, 2 and 5 mg/kg bw/day, respectively) from postpartum day 1-20. Male offspring rats were killed on PND 21 and PND 60. Testes were used both for histological study and to isolate Sertoli cell. Serum and testicular interstitial fluid (TIF) levels of testosterone, ABP and estradiol were analyzed by ELISA method. The mRNA and protein expressions of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHR), androgen-binding protein (ABP), Inhibinβ, androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ERβ) were studied using real-time PCR and immunoblotting, respectively.


RESULTS
The testicular architecture was altered in PCB-treated groups of both prepuberal and puberal rats. Testosterone, estradiol and androgen-binding protein levels were altered in both serum and TIF in PCB treated groups. The gene expression level of FSHR, ABP, ERβ and AR was decreased in a dose-dependent manner, whereas Inhibinβ gene expression level was increased in PCB-treated groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Lactational exposure to PCB affects both the histoarchitecture of testis, Sertoli cell maker and functional regulators in both prepuberal and puberal F1male progeny.
Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, India.
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Sugantha Priya
Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, India.
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Sathish Kumar
Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, India.
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Balaji
Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, India.
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Bavithra
Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, India.
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Raja Singh
Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, India.
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Sakthivel
Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, India.
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Ravi Sankar
Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, India. j_arunakaran@hotmail.com.
J
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Arunakaran
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D013739:Testosterone; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
F1 progeny; Lactation; Polychlorinated biphenyl; Rats; Sertoli cells