In vivo effect of endocrine disruptors (ethanol and endosulfan) on chromatin decondensation in rodent species

SANCHEZ MELISA C; ROMANATO MARINA; MILESI MARÍA M; ALARCÓN RAMIRO; CEBRAL ELISA; LO NOSTRO FABIANA; LUQUE ENRIQUE H; FONTANA VANINA A; CALVO JUAN C

Chascomús, Buenos Aires

Congreso; XVI Jornadas Anuales de la Sociedad Argentina de Biología; 2014

Sociedad Argentina de Biología

Chromatin decondensation is the first step towards syngamy after the spermatozoon penetrates the oocyte. It involves protamine disulfide bond reduction as well as protamine - oocyte histone exchange with the aid of a negatively charged molecule, s. Ethanol and endosulfan are known for their endocrine disrupting effects on gonads. We have previously reported that endosulfan, increases mouse sperm chromatin decondensation in vitro. Here we studied the in vivo effect of both ethanol and endosulfan on male mice and rats, respectively. Male mice (60-90 days old) were fed with 15% ethanol in drinking water, for 15 days, and then euthanized. Male rats were injected with 0.6 mg/kg body weight of endosulfan in mineral oil at day 1, 3, 5 and 7 after birth and euthanized at day 60. Spermatozoa were obtained from the cauda epididymis and decondensation analyzed in the presence of glutathion and heparine/dermatan sulfate. While mouse spermatozoa decondensed after a 60 minute incubation, rat spermatozoa needed 17 hours in order to achieve a similar degree of decondensation. Ethanol significantly increased (48+3 % control, n=8 versus 57+4 % treated, n=10, p