engleski

Histological assessment of foetal rat testes prenatally treated with α-cypermethrin

α-cypermethrin (α-cyp) is a widely used insecticide with proven reproductive toxicity in male rat offspring, thus acting as an endocrine disrupting chemical. Limited animal data indicate transplacental transfer of α-cyp. With the aim of investigating the effects of prenatal exposure to α-cyp on the histology of foetal rat testes, we treated pregnant Wistar rats subsequently p.o. from the 6th day of pregnancy with 1, 10, and 19 mg/kg bw/day of α-cyp. The doses were calculated according to NOAEL and LOAEL values for α-cyp reproductive toxicity in rats. On the 21st day of pregnancy, foetal testes were microsurgically removed, fixed in Sainte Marie solution, and embedded in paraffin. Then, 4-µm thick sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Proliferation of Sertoli cells, present at that specific foetal period, was assessed with staining for the rabbit antibody against mitotic marker phospho-histone H3 (Ser10+Thr11) (1:500, ab32107, Abcam). The histological assessment revealed no changes in the foetal testes histology, considering the basal membrane integrity or disruption of seminiferous tubules or interstitial spaces. Sertoli cells and gonocytes were present inside tubules, with no vacuolization or multinucleation observed. Leydig cells appeared histologically normal. Furthermore, a medium to strong intensity of staining for mitotic marker phosphorylated histone H3 antibody was observed predominantly in Sertoli cells, located in the periphery of seminiferous tubules. The signal was present in all of the treated groups, as well as in controls showing no negative effect of α-cyp on Sertoli cell proliferation. We concluded that α- cyp had no effect on the foetal testes histology after in utero exposure. However, further molecular analyses are needed to fully assess the effect of α-cyp on reproductive endocrine disruption.

in utero exposure ; insecticide ; male foetuses ; reproductive effects ; testicular histology

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