Maternal exposure to a mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) affects testis histology, epididymal sperm count and induces sperm DNA fragmentation in mice

Journal Article · Tue Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2017 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TAAP.2017.06.019· OSTI ID:22722905

Khezri, Abdolrahman ^[1]; Lindeman, Birgitte ^[2]; Ropstad, Erik ^[3]

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1. Department of Basic Science and Aquatic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Science, Pb. 8146 Dep, 0033 Oslo (Norway)
2. Department of Toxicology and Risk, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Pb 4404, 0403 Oslo (Norway)
3. Department of Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Science, Pb. 8146 Dep, 0033 Oslo (Norway)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are widespread throughout the environment and some are suspected to induce reproductive toxicity. As animals and humans are exposed to complex mixtures of POPs, it is reasonable to assess how such mixtures could interact with the reproductive system. Our aim is to investigate how maternal exposure to a mixture of 29 different persistent organic pollutants, formulated to mimic the relative POP levels in the food basket of the Scandinavian population, could alter reproductive endpoints. Female mice were exposed via feed from weaning, during pregnancy and lactation in 3 exposure groups (control (C), low (L) and high (H)). Testicular morphometric endpoints, epididymal sperm concentration and sperm DNA integrity were assessed in adult male offspring. We found that the number of tubules, proportion of tubule compartments and epididymal sperm concentration significantly decreased in both POP exposed groups. Epididymal sperm from both POP exposed groups showed increased DNA fragmentation. It is concluded that maternal exposure to a defined POP mixture relevant to human exposure can affect testicular development, sperm production and sperm chromatin integrity. - Highlights: • Male mice were maternally exposed to a mixture of persistent organic pollutants. • Exposure significantly affected the testis histology. • Exposure significantly decreased sperm count and induced sperm DNA fragmentation. • Maternal exposure to POP mixture induced reproductive toxicity in male offspring.

• OSTI ID: 22722905
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Journal Name: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Vol. 329; ISSN TXAPA9; ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
FRAGMENTATION
HISTOLOGY
MICE
MIXTURES
POLLUTANTS
SPERMATOZOA
TESTES