草甘膦对雄性大鼠睾酮合成的影响

探讨草甘膦亚慢性染毒对雄性大鼠睾酮合成的影响。雄性SD大鼠按体重随机分为对照组(0 mg·kg~(-1))、低剂量组(50 mg·kg~(-1))、中剂量组(200 mg·kg~(-1))和高剂量组(800 mg·kg~(-1)),连续灌胃染毒,第4、8和12周时分别处死一批动物,采集血液和脏器。放射免疫分析法检测大鼠血清中卵泡刺激素(follicle stimulating hormone,FSH)、黄体生成素(luteinizing hormone,LH)、睾酮(testosterone,T)、雌二醇(estradiol,E2)水平; HE染色法(苏木精-伊红染色法)观察睾丸病理学变化;免疫组化法检测3β-羟基类固醇脱氢酶(3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase,3β-HSD)、类固醇激素合成急性调节蛋白(steroid synthesis of acute regulatory protein,St AR)、细胞色素P450胆固醇侧链裂解酶(cytochrome P450 cholesterol side chain lyase,P450scc)和17β-羟基类固醇脱氢酶(17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase,17β-HSD)蛋白表达水平。随染毒剂量和时间的增加,大鼠血清FSH和T水平呈下降趋势,第12周高剂量组FSH水平明显低于对照组(P0.05),第8周和第12周高剂量组T水平明显低于对照组(P0.05),LH和E2水平各组间无统计学差异(P0.05)。组织病理学可见中、高剂量组睾丸生精小管、生精细胞、间质区结构被破坏。随草甘膦染毒剂量的增加,St AR和P450scc蛋白表达水平与对照组相比显著下降(P0.05),3β-HSD和17β-HSD蛋白表达水平在各组间无差异(P0.05)。草甘膦能降低血清T水平,抑制T合成相关蛋白St AR和P450scc的表达,干扰T的合成过程,具有雄性生殖毒性作用。     

Male sexual attractiveness affects the investment of maternal resources into the eggs in peafowl (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pavo cristatus</Emphasis>)

According to the differential investment hypothesis, females paired with attractive mates are expected to invest more in the current reproduction relative to females paired with unattractive males. We experimentally tested this hypothesis in the peafowl (Pavo cristatus) by providing females with males that differed in sexual attractiveness. In agreement with the differential allocation hypothesis, females paired with more ornamented males laid larger eggs, and deposited higher amounts of testosterone into the egg yolk, independently of the sex of the embryo. These results show that the association between paternal phenotype and offspring quality could arise via a differential maternal investment. They also suggest that, if ornamented males do transmit good genes to the progeny, the maternal differential investment can amplify the effect of such good genes on the offspring fitness.     

Intra-specific interactions influence egg composition in the lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus)

Egg composition, which is under maternal control, can have a profound effect on offspring fitness. The presence of maternal testosterone and carotenoids in avian egg yolk, for example, is thought to enhance the development and competitive ability of the offspring and protect the hatching and growing chick against oxidative stress. Egg quality often differs between females and such variation can be due to differences in maternal social environment, e.g. breeding density. However, this is confounded by the possibility that the quality of individuals breeding in high- or low-density areas may vary. We tested if maternal social environment influences egg composition in a colonial seabird, the lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus). To control for confounding effects of female quality, we experimentally manipulated maternal social environment during egg formation. We increased the frequency of intra-specific interactions (i.e. aggressive encounters with conspecifics other than nest mates) in which the females were involved, by placing an elevated platform in their territory. Females that took part in more intra-specific interactions produced a heavier last egg, but the yolk testosterone concentration in eggs laid by control and experimental females did not differ. Differences in yolk testosterone concentration in relation to embryo sex were found neither in the control nor in the experimental group. In contrast, within the control group, eggs with a male embryo contained more carotenoids than eggs with a female embryo. Moreover, experimental females that had been involved in more intra-specific interactions produced female eggs with higher carotenoid levels compared to female eggs of control birds. An experimental increase in carotenoid levels was not observed in eggs containing a male embryo. Our results suggest that intra-specific interactions experienced by female birds during egg formation can influence conditions for embryonic development.Communicated by J. Graves     

Prenatal and postnatal exposure to diazinon and its effect on spermatogram and pituitary gonadal hormones in male offspring of rats at puberty and adulthood

The objective of this research is to study the possible reproductive adverse effects of diazinon on rat offspring exposed in utero and during lactation. Twenty-four Sprague–Dawley female rats (10–12 week old) were randomly assigned to four groups, each consisting of six rats. Group 1 served as the control and these rats were given normal saline orally. Rats in groups 2, 3, and 4 were administered diazinon, dissolved in saline at 10, 15, 30 mg/ kg^?1 body weight, per oral, once daily, during mating, pregnancy and lactation. The male offsprings were examined at puberty and adulthood for body weight, testis weight, epididymis weight, sperm count, motility and morphology, pituitary-gonadal hormone levels. At 30 mg kg^?1 dose, the male offsprings showed a decrease in testicular weight, sperm count, motility, with an increase in abnormal sperm percentage and a decline in pituitary-gonadal hormones, at puberty. Upon attaining adulthood, there was a decrease in testicular weight, sperm count and motility with an increase in abnormal sperm percentage and a decrease in pituitary hormone level. There was evidence of some adverse reproductive effects on the male offspring at the 15 mg/ kg^?1 dose. Most of the adverse effects were irreversible and were evident at both puberty and adulthood in the offsprings, although a few parameters reverted to the normal growth pattern. Diazinon is a reproductive toxicant for male offsprings if exposed during prenatal and postnatal phases.     

PFOS青春期暴露对成年期雄性大鼠的生殖毒性

为探究青春期的PFOS暴露对成年后的SD大鼠的生殖毒性,对出生后第21天(PND21)的SD大鼠经口灌胃不同剂量的PFOS(5、10和20mg·kg~(-1)),连续染毒7d,在出生后第56天(PND56)时,对各染毒组SD大鼠的体质量、精子数量、血清中的睾酮浓度,以及睾丸间质细胞睾酮合成的相关基因mRNA水平进行了检测。结果显示,10mg·kg~(-1)剂量组大鼠体质量较对照组明显下降(P<0.01);精子数量在10mg·kg~(-1)和20mg·kg~(-1)剂量组明显降低(P<0.05);血清中睾酮浓度随着PFOS剂量的加大有明显下降的趋势,20mg·kg~(-1)剂量组显著低于对照组(P<0.05);类/胆固醇相关基因star和cyp11α1的mRNA表达水平明显下调。研究表明,青春期的PFOS暴露会导致睾酮合成途径中相关因子的功能缺失,破坏成熟睾丸间质细胞的功能,致使睾酮水平降低,并抑制精子生成,从而破坏生殖系统的功能。     

Influence of testosterone on phase-II enzymes in liver and kidney of benzene-treated rats

Testosterone manifests some protective effects against benzene-induced toxicity in rats. However, mechanism of protection remains to be established. Data showed that testosterone modulates conjugation of reactive metabolites of benzene by influencing phase-II enzymes viz. glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in both liver and kidney. These observations are supported by the opposite results obtained in castrated rats. It is postulated that testosterone decreases the formation of reactive oxygen species resulting into an increase in phase-II enzymes. Enhanced activity of these antioxidant enzymes is responsible for DNA strand repair as demonstrated by short comet tail length in liver and kidney of benzene and testosterone treated rats. Castration alters benzene pharmacokinetics by influencing these enzymes, a response which may be abolished by testosterone supplementation.