engleski

Effects of atrazine on 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone regulated mechanisms in rat prostate nuclei

Environmental pollutants, such as pesticides, could interfere with physiological processes in the mammalian reproductive system. The effects of atrazine, selective s-triazine herbicide, on the formation of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5alpha-DHT) -receptor complex in the rat prostate nuclei was examined. An atrazine dose of 120 mg/kg b.w. given i.p. daily to male rats over 10 days caused a statisticaly significant loss of body weight during the period of treatment. Specific binding of 3H-5alpha-DHT on rat prostate nuclei receptor was found by 12.6 percent SDS-PAGE to be associated with protein of apparent molecular weight of 20000, 43000 anf 67000 respectively. The inhibition of 3H-5alpha-DHT-receptor complex formation after in vitro addition (0.7 micromol)or after i.p. treatment with atrazine was found in all determined molecular weights, and the largest decrease of 79 percent was found at Mol.Wt. 43000. By introducing of the saturation analysis the number of specific binding sites on the receptors in rat prostate nuclei and the dissociation constant (Kd) for 5alpha-DHT-receptor complex were determined. The number of specific binding sites on the receptors in rat prostate nuclei was decreased by 50 percent after i.p. atrazine treatment with 120 mg/kg b.w. over 10 days or after in vitro addition of 0.7 micromol of atrazine, but Kd values were at the same range (M x 10-12). The results have shown that atrazine, even as a non-toxic herbicide, might induce disorders in the crucial biochemical processes such as the formation of 5alpha-DHT-receptor complex in the prostate nuclei.

atrazine, rat prostate, androgen, nuclear receptors, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone

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