OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of carbon disulfide (CS(2)) on the mitochondrial respiratory chain in testicular spermatogenic cells in male rats and to explore the possible mechanism of reproductive system damage caused by CS(2) in male rats.

METHODSTwenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats (clean grade) were randomly divided into four groups: three CS(2) exposure groups (CS(2) concentrations: 50, 250, and 1250 mg/m(3)) and a control group. The rats in CS(2) exposure groups were exposed to CS(2) by static inhalation for 10 weeks (2 h/d, 5 d/w), while the rats in control group were exposed to air. Then, all rats were sacrificed by decapitation; testicular tissues were collected, and mitochondrial protein in spermatogenic cells were extracted; the levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme complex I∼V were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, all CS(2) exposure groups had significantly increased levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme complex I∼V in spermatogenic cells (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of respiratory chain enzyme complex I∼IV between the CS(2) exposure groups (P < 0.05), but the level of respiratory chain enzyme complex V rose significantly as the concentration of CS(2) increased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONVarious levels of CS(2) exposure may increase the levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme complex in testicular spermatogenic cells among male rats, thus affecting the normal oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria.