1. Methyl parathion causes genetic damage in sperm and disrupts the permeability of the blood-testis barrier by an oxidant mechanism in mice.
- Author
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Urióstegui-Acosta M, Tello-Mora P, Solís-Heredia MJ, Ortega-Olvera JM, Piña-Guzmán B, Martín-Tapia D, González-Mariscal L, and Quintanilla-Vega B
- Subjects
- Acetylcholinesterase metabolism, Animals, Antioxidants pharmacology, Blood-Testis Barrier metabolism, Blood-Testis Barrier pathology, GPI-Linked Proteins antagonists & inhibitors, GPI-Linked Proteins metabolism, Lipid Peroxidation drug effects, Male, Mice, Inbred ICR, Protein Carbonylation drug effects, Spermatogenesis drug effects, Spermatozoa metabolism, Spermatozoa pathology, Blood-Testis Barrier drug effects, Capillary Permeability drug effects, Cholinesterase Inhibitors toxicity, DNA Damage, Methyl Parathion toxicity, Oxidative Stress drug effects, Pesticides toxicity, Spermatozoa drug effects
- Abstract
Methyl parathion (Me-Pa) is an extremely toxic organophosphorus pesticide still used in developing countries. It has been associated with decreased sperm function and fertility and with oxidative and DNA damage. The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is a structure formed by tight junction (TJ) proteins in Sertoli cells and has a critical role in spermatogenesis. We assessed the effect of repeated doses of Me-Pa (3-12 mg/kg/day for 5 days, i.p.) on sperm quality, lipid oxidation, DNA integrity, and BTB permeability in adult male mice and explored oxidation as a mechanism of toxicity. Me-Pa caused dose-dependent effects on sperm quality, lipoperoxidation, and DNA integrity. Testis histology results showed the disruption of spermatogenesis progression and atrophy of seminiferous tubules. The pesticide opened the BTB, as evidenced by the presence of a biotin tracer in the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous tubules. This effect was not observed after 45 days of exposure when a spermatogenic cycle had completed. The coadministration of the antioxidant α-tocopherol (50 mg/kg/day for 5 days, oral) prevented the effects of Me-Pa on sperm quality, DNA and the BTB, indicating the importance of oxidative stress in the damage generated by Me-Pa. As evidenced by immunochemistry, no changes were found in the localization of the TJ proteins of the BTB, although oxidation (carbonylation) of total proteins in testis homogenates was detected. Our results show that Me-Pa disturbs the BTB and that oxidation is involved in the observed toxic effects on sperm cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2020
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