Humans ; Lead ; toxicity ; Male ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects

Elimination of spermatogenic cells via apoptosis occurs spontaneously under normal physiologic conditions and is often aggravated after chemical-induced testicular impairment. A great amount of pollutants is released into the environment by modern industry, and many of these substances have been confirmed possessing reproductive toxicity, which can affect the reproduction and development of organism. These chemicals have been categorized to endocrine disrupting chemicals(EDCs). Studying spermatogenic cell apoptosis induced by EDCs will enrich and expand the pathway to identify EDCs, and will put forward new expounding of its mechanism. It has important meaning in the field of reproduction toxicology and male fertility.
Apoptosis ; Endocrine System ; cytology ; drug effects ; Environmental Pollutants ; toxicity ; Humans ; Male ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) have similar physiological and biological effects to those of plant hormones, and therefore are used widely in agroforestry. The residues of PGRs in agricultural products are seriously detrimental to human health because they have been found with hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, even carcinogenicity and teratogenicity. Furthermore, PGRs are suspected to disrupt the function of human and animal reproductive systems. This paper presents an overview on various toxicities of PGRs on human and animal reproductive health and their underlying mechanisms, aiming to arouse people's attention to PGR residues in food and environment and reduce PGR-induced damage to the male reproductive system and to human health as well.
Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Plant Growth Regulators ; toxicity ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Reproductive Health

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is found not only nephrotoxic, teratogenic, neurotoxic, and immunotoxic, but also reprotoxic for human and animals. In the recent decade, more attention has been paid to the impact of OTA on human reproduction and the studies of its underlying mechanisms. Many studies show that OTA affects the function of the reproductive system by acting as an endocrine disrupter and, as a testicular toxin, decreases sperm quality and even induces testis cancer. This review summarizes the toxicological characteristics and toxicokinetic process of OTA as well as recent progress in the studies of various toxic effects of OTA and their underlying mechanisms, hoping to call the attention from more people to the toxicity of OTA to male reproductive health.
Animals ; Endocrine Disruptors ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Fertility ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Ochratoxins ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Testicular Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; Testis ; drug effects

AIMTo explore the effect of exposure to commercial Parathion (Pc) on the reproductive parameters (sperm and cocoon production and genotoxicity on male germ cells), the survival, the body weight and the gross anatomical changes in Eisenia foetida.

METHODSThree doses of Pc (1478, 739 and 444 mg/kg of soil) and three time intervals of exposure (5, 15 and 30 days) were used.

RESULTSAll treated animals were affected. An acute genotoxic effect, revealed by DNA fragmentation (comet assay), was seen by 5 days. Alterations in reproductive parameters were conspicuous in regard to the number of sperm, cocoons and worms born, and the histological observation of the gonads and seminal receptacles. In addition, the body weight and survival rate were decreased. Neuromuscular function was also affected.

CONCLUSIONEarthworms are suitable bioindicators of chemical contamination of the soil, their advantage being their easy and economical handling.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Male ; Oligochaeta ; drug effects ; Parathion ; toxicity ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Soil Pollutants ; toxicity ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo explore brain-protective effect of androgen, its dose-effect relationship and long-term adverse reaction.

METHODSeventy two 3-day-old SD rats were randomized into androgen group (n = 32), HIBD model group (n = 32) and sham operated group (n = 8). The androgen group and HIBD model group were further randomized into 30 mg/kg group, 60 mg/kg group, 120 mg/kg group and 240 mg/kg group, respectively. In androgen group and HIBD group, every rat was given testosterone or peanut oil, one time a day. Three days later, HIBD model was established by occlusion of the left common carotid artery and inhalation of 8% oxygen plus 92% nitrogen for 2.5 hours. Adult rats' ability of learning and memory was determined by water maze test. Escape latencies were recorded and analyzed by statistics. Vaginal cells of all female rats were examined everyday for identifying their estrous cycle. Female rats were allowed to live with normal adult male rats if the female rats were in estrous period. Vaginal cells were examined everyday until sperm was seen, which was the signal of gestation. Pregnancy rate and the number of embryos were recorded and analyzed by statistics. Acropetal coefficient was calculated. The testes and epididymis were taken from adult male rats, histopathological sections were made, and the structure of testis and epididymis were studied under light microscope.

RESULTIn Morris experiment, escape latencies (EL) of HIBD group were much longer than those of sham operation group (27.71 ± 3.19) s, time of first enter target (1(st) ET) was later than that of sham operation group (5.34 ± 0.83) s, times of target cross (TC) was less than that of sham operation group (18.88 ± 1.89) (P < 0.01, P = 0.0005). EL of androgen group (34.89 ± 3.68, 33.71 ± 3.38, 33.84 ± 3.45, 35.43 ± 2.43) were much shorter than that of HIBD group, 1(st) ET (5.39 ± 1.51, 6.28 ± 2.07, 5.09 ± 1.61, 5.85 ± 0.87) was earlier than that of HIBD group, TC (12.75 ± 2.05, 14.88 ± 3.36, 14.88 ± 2.36, 14.38 ± 1.60) was more than that of HIBD group (P < 0.01, P = 0.0001). Among the four doses groups of androgen group, EL, 1(st) ET and TC had no statistical significance (P > 0.05, P = 0.159). There were no statistical significance between male rats of androgen group [Testes acropetal coefficient (0.89 ± 0.07, 0.92 ± 0.08, 0.88 ± 0.11, 0.87 ± 0.09), epididymis acropetal coefficient (0.25 ± 0.02, 0.24 ± 0.05, 0.26 ± 0.04, 0.23 ± 0.05)], HIBD group and sham operation group (P > 0.05, P = 3.207). Among the four doses groups of androgen group had no statistical significance (P > 0.05, P = 6.663). There were no statistical significance between female rats of androgen group (pregnancy rate, 100%; times, 14.52 ± 3.34, 14.69 ± 2.28, 14.98 ± 2.67, 15.38 ± 3.07), HIBD group and sham operation group in pregnancy rate and times.

CONCLUSIONThe intellectual ability of rats decreased after HI. Androgen could reduce the effect of HI on intellectual ability. Androgen had no adverse reaction to the reproductive capacity of adult rats.

Androgens ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; psychology ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE: To explore the general reproductive toxicity in mice exposed to low-level ozone. METHODS: Low-level (0.09 approximately 0.18 mg/m3) ozone was created by 15 W ultraviolet light. The mice in 3 experimental groups and a control group were fed in low-level ozone environment or normal environment, respectively, and then the mating experiment was conducted. The pregnancy rate and the weight variations of the female mice were observed. The weight of the live fetuses was observed, and the appearance, bone and internal organs were checked for malformation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in any indexes between the experimental groups and the control group. CONCLUSION Low-level ozone created by 15 W ultraviolet light may not have reproductive toxicity in mice.
Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Fertility ; drug effects ; Inhalation Exposure ; adverse effects ; Male ; Mice ; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level ; Ozone ; toxicity ; Random Allocation ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Ultraviolet Rays

AIMTo observe the cytotoxic effect of the organophosphate insecticide malathion in the reproductive tissues of the earthworms, Eisenia foetida.

METHODSWorms were nourished in soil treated with malathion at single sub-lethal doses of 0, 80, 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg soil. (LD50=880 mg/kg soil) and evaluated on days 1, 5, 15 and 30 after exposure. The body weights were recorded and male reproductive organs evaluated.

RESULTSMalathion-treated animals showed a significant reduction in body weight in a dose-dependent manner. Malathion treatment modified the disposition of spermatozoa in the basal epithelium of the spermatheca. The Br-deoxyuridine test showed a significant rise in cells in phase S on days 5 and 15. Also, a higher percentage of spermatogonia with fragmented DNA were observed by means of the TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique in the spermatheca of treated animals.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with malathion decreased the body weight and the spermatic viability in spermatheca, altering the cell proliferation and modifying the DNA structure of spermatogonia.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; DNA Fragmentation ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Malathion ; adverse effects ; Male ; Oligochaeta ; drug effects ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; S Phase ; drug effects ; genetics ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate effect of Epimedium flavonoids (EF), positively controlled by caloric restriction (CR) method, in retarding aging of the model organism C. elegans, in order to establish a basis for studying its action mechanism.

METHODSExperiment for life-time analysis was conducted on animals grouped into the blank group, the CR group, and the high and low dose EF groups to observe their mean lifespan, maximum lifespan and age-dependent mortality. And the reproductive capacity test and acute heat-stress analysis were carried out in the blank group and the high dose EF group to observe the subalgebra and the mean survival time under acute heat-stress at 35 degrees C.

RESULTSAs compared with the blank group, the mean lifespan in the two EF group and the maximum lifespan in the high dose EF group were higher, and the age-dependent mortality in the high dose EF group was lower significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01); as compared with the CR group, the mean lifespan and maximum lifespan in the high dose EF group were higher (P<0.01); but no significant difference of the subalgebra between the blank group and the high dose EF group was shown (P>0.05). Compared with the blank group, the mean lifespan in the high dose EF group was significantly prolonged under acute heat-stress at 35 degrees C (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONEF can retard the aging of C. elegans without damage on the reproductive capacity, and significantly improve its capacity against acute heat-stress.

Aging ; drug effects ; physiology ; Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; drug effects ; physiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Hot Temperature ; adverse effects ; Longevity ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Stress, Physiological ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of pre- and post-natal exposure to soy isoflavones (SIF) on the related indicators of the reproductive system development and ER-beta expression in male rat offspring.

METHODSPregnant SD rats were randomly divided into a corn oil group (control), 3 SIF groups (50, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight), and a diethylstilbestrol (DES, 0.1 mg/ kg body weight) group to be treated respectively by intragastric gavage from pregnancy day 0. On postnatal day (PND) 21, the male offspring were treated in the same manner till sexual maturity, and on PND 49 and 90, 6 male rats from each group were killed for observation of the related indicators of the reproductive system development and the detection of the expression of ER-beta in the testis.

RESULTSThe mean daily food intake showed no evident differences among the SIF and DES groups, but the food efficiency ratio (FER) was significantly decreased in the 200 and 400 mg/kg SIF and 0.1 mg/kg DES groups (P < 0.05) at 49 and 90 PND. At the dose of > or = 50 mg/kg, SIF markedly reduced the body weight of the rats (P < 0.05), even more so at 90 PND than at 49 PND. The increased dose of SIF was correlated with the reduction of testis weight, sperm head count and daily sperm production, and so was it with the elevation of the ER-beta expression, both more obviously at 90 PND than at 49 PND.

CONCLUSIONPre- and post-natal exposure to SIF affects the reproductive system development of male rat offspring, and the elevation of ER-beta expression may be one of its mechanisms.

Animals ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; metabolism ; Female ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Maternal Exposure ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Testis ; metabolism