Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Anti-fibrosis Biotherapy, Heilongjiang, P. R. China.
Hong Qi Hospital, Mudanjiang Medical University, Heilongjiang, P. R. China.
PLoS One. 2014 Jan 14;9(1):e78888. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078888. eCollection 2014.
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a synthetic material that has been widely used in industrial applications for decades. Exposure to PFOS has been associated with decreased adult testosterone level, and Leydig cell impairment during the time of adulthood. However, little is known about PFOS effects in utero on fetal Leydig cells (FLC).
The present study investigated effects of PFOS on FLC function. Pregnant Sprague Dawley female rats received vehicle (0.05% Tween20) or PFOS (5, 20 mg/kg) by oral gavage from gestational day (GD) 11-19. At GD20, testosterone (T) production, FLC numbers and ultrastructure, testicular gene and protein expression levels were examined. The results indicate that exposures to PFOS have affected FLC function as evidenced by decreased T production, impaired FLC, reduced FLC number, and decreased steroidogenic capacity and cholesterol level in utero.
The present study shows that PFOS is an endocrine disruptor of male reproductive system as it causes reduction of T production and impairment of rat fetal Leydig cells.
全氟辛烷磺酸 (PFOS) 是一种合成材料,已在工业应用中广泛使用了数十年。接触 PFOS 与成年时期男性睾丸酮水平下降和 Leydig 细胞损伤有关。然而,关于 PFOS 对胎儿 Leydig 细胞 (FLC) 的宫内影响知之甚少。
本研究调查了 PFOS 对 FLC 功能的影响。妊娠 Sprague Dawley 雌性大鼠从妊娠第 11-19 天经口灌胃给予载体 (0.05% Tween20) 或 PFOS (5、20mg/kg)。在 GD20 时,检查了睾丸酮 (T) 产生、FLC 数量和超微结构、睾丸基因和蛋白表达水平。结果表明,PFOS 的暴露影响了 FLC 的功能,表现为 T 产生减少、FLC 损伤、FLC 数量减少以及类固醇生成能力和胆固醇水平降低。
本研究表明,PFOS 是一种男性生殖系统内分泌干扰物,因为它会导致 T 产生减少和大鼠胎儿 Leydig 细胞损伤。