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Toxicological Sciences
Article . 2007 . Peer-reviewed
Data sources: Crossref
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Alterations in Gene Expression and Testosterone Synthesis in the Testes of Male Rats Exposed to Perfluorododecanoic Acid

Authors: Hongxia Zhang; Zhimin Shi; Yang Liu; Jiayin Dai; Muqi Xu;

Alterations in Gene Expression and Testosterone Synthesis in the Testes of Male Rats Exposed to Perfluorododecanoic Acid

Abstract

Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA, C12), a synthetic perfluorinated chemical containing 12 carbons, has broad industrial applications and has been detected in sera from humans and other animals; however, few reports have addressed the effects of PFDoA exposure on male reproduction. In the present study, the effects of PFDoA exposure on testes ultrastructure, testosterone levels, and steroidogenic gene expression were investigated. Male rats were orally dosed for 14 days with 1, 5, or 10 mg PFDoA/kg/day or with vehicle. Absolute testis weight was diminished at the highest dose while relative testes weight was markedly increased at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg/day. Total serum cholesterol levels were significantly increased at the highest dose. While luteinizing hormone was significantly decreased at the highest dose, testosterone was markedly decreased at doses of 5 and 10 mg PFDoA/kg/day. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone were not significantly affected by PFDoA, and estradiol levels were markedly decreased only at 5 mg/kg/day. Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and spermatogenic cells from rats that received 5 or 10 mg PFDoA/kg/day, exhibited apoptotic features including dense irregular nuclei, condensed chromatin, ill-defined nuclear membranes, and abnormal mitochondria. PFDoA exposure resulted in significant declines in mRNA expression of several genes involved in cholesterol transport and steroid biosynthesis at doses of 5 and 10 mg PFDoA/kg/day, while the gene expression of luteinizing hormone receptor and aromatase was not significantly changed. Our results demonstrate that PFDoA affects the reproduction function of male rats via alterations in steroidogenesis genes, testosterone levels, and testes ultrastructure.

Related Organizations
Keywords

CD36 Antigens, Male, Fluorocarbons, 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases, 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases, Estradiol, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Body Weight, Gene Expression, Lauric Acids, Organ Size, Luteinizing Hormone, Receptors, LH, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Cholesterol, Animals, Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme, RNA, Messenger, Follicle Stimulating Hormone

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citations
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
124
Top 1%
Top 10%
Top 10%
bronze