Alleviative effect of quercetin against reproductive toxicity induced by chronic exposure to the mixture of phthalates in male rats
Phthalates (PEs) are widely used plasticizers in polymer products, and humans are increasingly exposed to them. This study was designed to investigate the alleviative effect of phytochemicals quercetin (Que) against male reproductive toxicity caused by the mixture of three commonly used PEs (MPEs),...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323014240 |
| _version_ | 1797350584770101248 |
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| author | Ling-Zi Xia Li-Lan Liu Jun-Zhe Yue Zhen-Yu Lu Jie Zheng Ming-Zhe Jiang Min Lin Jiaming Liu Hai-Tao Gao |
| author_facet | Ling-Zi Xia Li-Lan Liu Jun-Zhe Yue Zhen-Yu Lu Jie Zheng Ming-Zhe Jiang Min Lin Jiaming Liu Hai-Tao Gao |
| author_sort | Ling-Zi Xia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Phthalates (PEs) are widely used plasticizers in polymer products, and humans are increasingly exposed to them. This study was designed to investigate the alleviative effect of phytochemicals quercetin (Que) against male reproductive toxicity caused by the mixture of three commonly used PEs (MPEs), and further to explore the underlying mechanism. Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly and evenly divided into control group, Que group, MPEs group and MPEs+Que group (n = 12); The oral exposure doses of MPEs and Que were 450 mg/kg/d and 50 mg/kg/d, respectively. After 91 days of continuous intervention, compared with control group, the testes weight, epididymis weight, serum sex hormones, and anogenital distance were significantly decreased in MPEs group (P < 0.05); Testicular histopathological observation showed that all seminiferous tubules were atrophy, leydig cells were hyperplasia, spermatogenic cells growth were arrested in MPEs group. Ultrastructural observation of testicular germ cells showed that the edges of the nuclear membranes were indistinct, and the mitochondria were severely damaged with the cristae disrupted, decreased or even disappeared in MPEs group. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis showed that testicular CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and 17β-HSD were up-regulated, while StAR, PIWIL1 and PIWIL2 were down-regulated in MPEs group (P < 0.05); However, the alterations of these parameters were restored in MPEs+Que group. The results indicated MPEs disturbed steroid hormone metabolism, and caused male reproductive injuries; whereas, Que could inhibit MPEs’ male reproductive toxicity, which might relate to the restored regulation of steroid hormone metabolism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:47:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2025d2b0c107488ea65ba70105566d82 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:47:05Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-2025d2b0c107488ea65ba70105566d822024-01-21T05:05:31ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132024-01-01270115920Alleviative effect of quercetin against reproductive toxicity induced by chronic exposure to the mixture of phthalates in male ratsLing-Zi Xia0Li-Lan Liu1Jun-Zhe Yue2Zhen-Yu Lu3Jie Zheng4Ming-Zhe Jiang5Min Lin6Jiaming Liu7Hai-Tao Gao8Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Watershed Science and Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Watershed Science and Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Watershed Science and Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; Wenzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Neurodevelopmental Pathology and Physiology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, ChinaPhthalates (PEs) are widely used plasticizers in polymer products, and humans are increasingly exposed to them. This study was designed to investigate the alleviative effect of phytochemicals quercetin (Que) against male reproductive toxicity caused by the mixture of three commonly used PEs (MPEs), and further to explore the underlying mechanism. Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly and evenly divided into control group, Que group, MPEs group and MPEs+Que group (n = 12); The oral exposure doses of MPEs and Que were 450 mg/kg/d and 50 mg/kg/d, respectively. After 91 days of continuous intervention, compared with control group, the testes weight, epididymis weight, serum sex hormones, and anogenital distance were significantly decreased in MPEs group (P < 0.05); Testicular histopathological observation showed that all seminiferous tubules were atrophy, leydig cells were hyperplasia, spermatogenic cells growth were arrested in MPEs group. Ultrastructural observation of testicular germ cells showed that the edges of the nuclear membranes were indistinct, and the mitochondria were severely damaged with the cristae disrupted, decreased or even disappeared in MPEs group. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis showed that testicular CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and 17β-HSD were up-regulated, while StAR, PIWIL1 and PIWIL2 were down-regulated in MPEs group (P < 0.05); However, the alterations of these parameters were restored in MPEs+Que group. The results indicated MPEs disturbed steroid hormone metabolism, and caused male reproductive injuries; whereas, Que could inhibit MPEs’ male reproductive toxicity, which might relate to the restored regulation of steroid hormone metabolism.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323014240QuercetinPhthalatesMale reproductive toxicitySteroidogenic proteinsSteroid hormone metabolismPIWI proteins |
| spellingShingle | Ling-Zi Xia Li-Lan Liu Jun-Zhe Yue Zhen-Yu Lu Jie Zheng Ming-Zhe Jiang Min Lin Jiaming Liu Hai-Tao Gao Alleviative effect of quercetin against reproductive toxicity induced by chronic exposure to the mixture of phthalates in male rats Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Quercetin Phthalates Male reproductive toxicity Steroidogenic proteins Steroid hormone metabolism PIWI proteins |
| title | Alleviative effect of quercetin against reproductive toxicity induced by chronic exposure to the mixture of phthalates in male rats |
| title_full | Alleviative effect of quercetin against reproductive toxicity induced by chronic exposure to the mixture of phthalates in male rats |
| title_fullStr | Alleviative effect of quercetin against reproductive toxicity induced by chronic exposure to the mixture of phthalates in male rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alleviative effect of quercetin against reproductive toxicity induced by chronic exposure to the mixture of phthalates in male rats |
| title_short | Alleviative effect of quercetin against reproductive toxicity induced by chronic exposure to the mixture of phthalates in male rats |
| title_sort | alleviative effect of quercetin against reproductive toxicity induced by chronic exposure to the mixture of phthalates in male rats |
| topic | Quercetin Phthalates Male reproductive toxicity Steroidogenic proteins Steroid hormone metabolism PIWI proteins |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323014240 |
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