Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do 37224, Republic of Korea.
Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do 37224, Republic of Korea; Department of Animal Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do 37224, Republic of Korea.
Reprod Toxicol. 2021 Apr;101:74-80. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.03.002. Epub 2021 Mar 10.
Bifenthrin (BF), a broad-spectrum synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, has been generally used to eradicate harmful insects. However, according to the U.S. EPA, BF has been classified as a "Class C" carcinogenic ingredient. Furthermore, a previous study reported that BF was considered as endocrine-disrupting chemicals and causes reproductive toxicity in mammals. Despite the various effects of BF, there is a scarcity of studies about its adverse effects on male fertility. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effects of BF on sperm functions at various concentrations (0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μM), including a control. Sperm motility and kinematics, capacitation status, intracellular ATP levels, cell viability, PKA activation, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation were measured. Moreover, fertilization and early embryonic development were examined through in vitro fertilization. Results showed that sperm motility and kinematic parameters were significantly decreased at a high BF concentration. Consequently, the sperm capacitation status exhibited significant alteration according to the treatment concentration. Intracellular ATP levels were significantly decreased at 10 and 100 μM treatment concentrations. Moreover, the levels of phospho-PKA substrates were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, the levels of phospho-tyrosine substrates were significantly decreased at 10 and 100 μM treatment concentrations. BF treatment also diminished the rate of blastocyst formation. Altogether, our results demonstrated that BF causes detrimental effects on sperm function and can influence fertilization. Therefore, our study results might be helpful in understanding the adverse effects of BF on male fertility.
联苯菊酯（BF）是一种广谱合成拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂，通常用于消灭有害昆虫。然而，根据美国环保署（EPA）的分类，BF 被列为“C 类”致癌成分。此外，先前的一项研究报告称，BF 被认为是内分泌干扰化学物质，会对哺乳动物造成生殖毒性。尽管 BF 有各种影响，但关于其对男性生育力的不良影响的研究很少。因此，这项研究旨在确定不同浓度（0.1、1、10 和 100 μM，包括对照）的 BF 对精子功能的影响。测量了精子的运动和运动学、获能状态、细胞内 ATP 水平、细胞活力、PKA 激活和蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化。此外，还通过体外受精检查了受精和早期胚胎发育。结果表明，高浓度 BF 显著降低了精子的运动和运动学参数。因此，根据处理浓度，精子获能状态发生了显著改变。10 和 100 μM 处理浓度时细胞内 ATP 水平显著降低。此外，磷酸化 PKA 底物的水平呈剂量依赖性显著增加。相比之下，10 和 100 μM 处理浓度时磷酸酪氨酸底物的水平显著降低。BF 处理还降低了囊胚形成率。总之，我们的研究结果表明 BF 对精子功能有不良影响，并可能影响受精。因此，我们的研究结果可能有助于了解 BF 对男性生育力的不良影响。
