Changes in the reproductive Function of males by a daily exposure to the endocrine disruptor 3-methylcholanthrene

CONDEMI, SANTIAGO; GALARZA, ROCÍO ALEJANDRA; RHON CALDERÓN, ERIC ALEJANDRO; FALETTI, ALICIA GRACIELA

Beijing

Congreso; 17th International Congress of Endocrinology from International Society of Endocrinology; 2016

International Society of Endocrinology

3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), an environmental pollutant, is a polyaromatic hydrocarbon and an endocrine disruptor that alters the ovarian function through the activation of the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR). Previous studies in our laboratory showed that 3MC alters the ovarian function by affecting the follicle integrity in rodents. Objective: The aim of this work was to study whether a daily exposure to 3MC affects the reproductive capacity in males by examining both quality and quantity of sperm and the histology of testis. Methods: Testis from immature rats, daily exposed to 3MC (1 mg/Kg) for 20 days were used. To determine whether the 3MC treatment affected the reproductive function in males, we studied the general sexual parameters (including: sperm count, sperm abnormalities), then we determined the effect on the testicle by histology (mean seminiferous tubule diameter). Finally, to study the systemic toxicity of 3MC we used two methodologies: comet assay and micronucleus assay.Results: 3MC animals exhibited a decrease in sperm count, expressed as million cells/ml (80±26, p