College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Office of Academic Research, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023 Dec;268:115716. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115716. Epub 2023 Nov 21.
Due to the wide use of atrazine (ATR), the concern has increased regarding the negative impact of ATR on reproduction. Nevertheless, the reproductive effects caused by different exposure concentrations and the severity of toxic damage are poorly understood. In organisms, ATR is metabolized and degraded through phase II enzyme systems, and changes in cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes may have a regulatory role in the harm of ATR. However, less information is available on the induction of CYPs by ATR in avian organisms, and even less on its effects on the testis. Birds are exposed to ATR mainly through food residues and contaminated water, the purpose of this study was to examine reproductive toxicity by different exposure concentrations and elaborate metabolic disorders caused by ATR in European quail (Coturnix coturnix). In this study, the quail were given ATR at 50 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg by oral gavage for 45 days, and the testicular weight coefficients, histopathology and ultrastructure of testes, primary biochemical functions, sex steroid hormones, critical protein levels in the testosterone synthesis pathway, the expression of genes involved CYPs, gonad axis and nuclear receptors expression were investigated. Altogether, testicular coefficient decreased significantly in the high-dose group (1.22%) compared with the control group (3.03%) after 45 days of ATR exposure, and ATR is a potent CYP disruptor that acts through the NXRs and steroid receptor subfamily (APND, CAR, ERND and ERα) without a dose-dependent manner. Notably, ATR interfered with the homeostasis of hormones by triggering the expression of hormones on the gonad axis (LH and E). These results suggest that exposure to ATR can cause testicular toxicity involving accommodative disorder of phase II enzyme and testosterone synthesis in European quail.
由于莠去津（ATR）的广泛使用，人们越来越关注 ATR 对生殖的负面影响。然而，不同暴露浓度和毒性损伤严重程度引起的生殖效应还不太清楚。在生物体内，ATR 通过 II 相酶系统代谢和降解，细胞色素 P450（CYP）酶的变化可能对 ATR 的危害具有调节作用。然而，关于 ATR 对禽类 CYP 的诱导作用的信息较少，而关于其对睾丸的影响的信息则更少。鸟类主要通过食物残渣和受污染的水接触 ATR，本研究的目的是研究不同暴露浓度对生殖毒性的影响，并详细阐述 ATR 对鹌鹑（ Coturnix coturnix ）睾丸造成的代谢紊乱。在这项研究中，鹌鹑通过口服灌胃分别给予 50mg/kg、250mg/kg 和 500mg/kg 的 ATR，45 天后，检测睾丸重量系数、睾丸组织病理学和超微结构、主要生化功能、性激素、睾丸酮合成途径中的关键蛋白水平、参与 CYP 的基因表达、性腺轴和核受体表达。总的来说，与对照组（3.03%）相比，ATR 暴露 45 天后，高剂量组（1.22%）睾丸系数显著下降，ATR 是一种有效的 CYP 干扰物，通过 NXRs 和类固醇受体亚家族（APND、CAR、ERND 和 ERα）起作用，而不是剂量依赖性方式。值得注意的是，ATR 通过触发性腺轴上激素的表达（LH 和 E）干扰激素的动态平衡。这些结果表明，ATR 暴露可导致鹌鹑睾丸毒性，涉及 II 相酶和睾丸酮合成的适应性障碍。
