Ribeiro Yves Moreira, Moreira Davidson Peruci, Weber André Alberto, Miranda Thayná Grazielle Rodrigues, Bazzoli Nilo, Rizzo Elizete
Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, USA.
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2023 Mar;98:104058. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2022.104058. Epub 2022 Dec 31.
Estrone (E1) is a common environmental contaminant found in rivers and streams due to the farming of animals, such as swine and cattle. Our study evaluated the effects of chronic E1 exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations on spermatogenesis and the semen quality of zebrafish (Danio rerio). We exposed the fish to E1 at concentrations of 20, 200, and 2000 ng/L diluted in 0.001% ethanol (v/v) for 49 days. There were two control groups: one was exposed to water only and the other to ethanol at the same concentration used in the E1 groups. Following exposure, we analyzed the proportion of testicular cell types and other components (%), rate of cell proliferation and death, and sex steroid concentrations. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), IGF2, IGF1 receptor (IGF1R), and inducible nitric oxide synthase and assessed the semen quality. E1 exposure increased spermatogonia, spermatids, Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and the proportion of inflammatory infiltrate but decreased the spermatozoa amount. These changes were reflected by reductions in the gonadosomatic index and levels of 11-ketotestosterone in the testes. On the other hand, E1 exposure increased testicular estradiol, IGF1R expression, and nitric oxide production. After an evaluation using a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system, we observed reduced progressive motility, curvilinear velocity, and beat cross frequency of 20 and 2000 ng/L E1 groups. Our findings support that E1 causes deleterious effects on the testicular function and semen quality of D. rerio even at environmental concentrations. Thus, E1 concentrations should be monitored in surface waters for the purposes of fish conservation.
雌酮（E1）是一种常见的环境污染物，由于猪和牛等家畜养殖，在河流和溪流中都能发现它的踪迹。我们的研究评估了在环境相关浓度下长期暴露于E1对斑马鱼（Danio rerio）精子发生和精液质量的影响。我们将斑马鱼暴露于浓度为20、200和2000 ng/L的E1中，这些E1用0.001%乙醇（v/v）稀释，持续暴露49天。设置了两个对照组：一组仅暴露于水中，另一组暴露于与E1组相同浓度的乙醇中。暴露后，我们分析了睾丸细胞类型和其他成分的比例（%）、细胞增殖和死亡速率以及性类固醇浓度。此外，我们分析了胰岛素样生长因子1（IGF1）、IGF2、IGF1受体（IGF1R）和诱导型一氧化氮合酶的表达，并评估了精液质量。E1暴露增加了精原细胞、精子细胞、支持细胞、间质细胞以及炎性浸润的比例，但减少了精子数量。这些变化反映在性腺指数降低和睾丸中11 - 酮睾酮水平下降。另一方面，E1暴露增加了睾丸雌二醇、IGF1R表达和一氧化氮的产生。在使用计算机辅助精子分析（CASA）系统进行评估后，我们观察到20和2000 ng/L E1组的精子渐进运动性、曲线速度和拍打交叉频率降低。我们的研究结果表明，即使在环境浓度下，E1也会对斑马鱼的睾丸功能和精液质量产生有害影响。因此，为了保护鱼类，应监测地表水中的E1浓度。
