Title
Differential effects of exposure to single versus a mixture of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on steroidogenesis pathway in mouse testes
Date Issued
01 January 2018
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Buñay J.
Larriba E.
Patiño-Garcia D.
Cruz-Fernandes L.
Rodriguez-Fernandez M.
del Mazo J.
Moreno R.D.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Publisher(s)
Oxford University Press
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) generate reproductive dysfunctions affecting the biosynthesis of steroid hormones and genes of the steroidogenic pathway. EDCs effects are mainly reported as a result of exposure to single compounds. However, humans are environmentally exposed to a mixture of EDCs. Herein, we assess chronic exposure to single alkylphenols and phthalates versus a mixture in mouse testes histology and steroidogenesis. Pregnant mice were exposed through drinking water to: 0.3 mg/kg-body weight (BW)/d of each phthalate (bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate), 0.05 mg/kg-BW/d of each alkylphenol (4-nonylphenol, 4-tert-octylphenol), or their mixture, covering from 0.5 postcoital day to weaning, continuing in the male offspring each exposure until adulthood (60-days old). Body and relative testis weight were increased in mixture-exposed mice along with histological alterations. Intratesticular testosterone (T) changed only in mice exposed to DBP, whereas estradiol (E2) levels were altered in all groups (except benzyl butyl phthalate). mRNA levels of genes encoding hormones of the steroid pathway (Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1, Cyp17a1, and Cyp19a1), cholesterol transporters (Star), and transcriptional factors (Sp1) showed that mice exposed to single or mixed compounds had alterations in at least 2 transcripts. However, none of the different types of exposure induced changes in all transcripts. In addition, changes at the mRNA or protein levels with single compounds were not always the same as those with a mixture. In conclusion, the effects of a chronic exposure to a mixture of EDCs on the expression of genes and proteins of the steroidogenic pathway and hormonal status were different from those exposed to single EDC.
Start page
76
End page
86
Volume
161
Issue
1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Tecnología médica de laboratorio (análisis de muestras, tecnologías para el diagnóstico)
Toxicología
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85039870134
PubMed ID
Source
Toxicological Sciences
ISSN of the container
10966080
Sponsor(s)
This work was supported by grants from FONDECYT (1150352) and CONICYT (21120505), Chile, and MINECO (BFU2013-42164-R), Spain.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus