Effects of maternal inhalation of carbon black nanoparticles on reproductive and fertility parameters in a four-generati
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(2019) 16:13
RESEARCH
Open Access
Effects of maternal inhalation of carbon black nanoparticles on reproductive and fertility parameters in a four-generation study of male mice Astrid Skovmand1,2, Alexander C. Ø. Jensen1, Clotilde Maurice6, Francesco Marchetti6, Anna J. Lauvås2, Ismo K. Koponen1, Keld A. Jensen1, Sandra Goericke-Pesch2,5, Ulla Vogel1,4 and Karin S. Hougaard1,3*
Abstract Background: Previous findings indicate that in utero exposure to nanoparticles may affect the reproductive system in male offspring. Effects such as decreased sperm counts and testicular structural changes in F1 males have been reported following maternal airway exposure to carbon black during gestation. In addition, a previous study in our laboratory suggested that the effects of in utero exposure of nanoparticles may span further than the first generation, as sperm content per gram of testis was significantly lowered in F2 males. In the present study we assessed male fertility parameters following in utero inhalation exposure to carbon black in four generations of mice. Results: Filter measurements demonstrated that the time-mated females were exposed to a mean total suspended particle mass concentration of 4.79 ± 1.86 or 33.87 ± 14.77 mg/m3 for the low and high exposure, respectively. The control exposure was below the detection limit (LOD 0.08 mg/m3). Exposure did not affect gestation and litter parameters in any generation. No significant changes were observed in body and reproductive organ weights, epididymal sperm parameters, daily sperm production, plasma testosterone or fertility. Conclusion: In utero exposure to carbon black nanoparticles, at occupationally relevant exposure levels, via maternal whole body inhalation did not affect male-specific reproductive, fertility and litter parameters in four generations of mice. Keywords: Computer assisted sperm analysis, Daily sperm production, In utero, Nanoparticles, Reproductive toxicity, Airway exposure, Sperm quality, Testes
Background Epidemiological research shows that semen quality across the globe has and continues to decline. A statistical analysis performed in 1992 based on data derived from world literature shows that from 1940 to 1990 the mean sperm counts of fertile men declined from 113 × 106 to 66 × 106 sperm/ml [1]. A recent analysis (2017) continues to support this statement and shows that from 1973 to 2011 sperm counts have declined 50–60% in North America, * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark 3 Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, Denmark Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Europe, Australia and New Zealand [2]. In countries such as Denmark, young cohorts with sperm counts in the subfertility range also have lowered fecundity, suggesting that poor semen quality is a potential contributing factor to low fertility rates [3]. Some recent data, however, indicate that sperm counts have stabilized in at least some countries
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