The Effect of Lead Acetate and Quercetin on the Tight and Gap Junctions in the Mouse Testis
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The Effect of Lead Acetate and Quercetin on the Tight and Gap Junctions in the Mouse Testis Parisa Dolati 1 & Zahra Khodabandeh 2
&
Mohammad Javad Zamiri 1 & Iman Jamhiri 2 & Davood Mehrabani 2,3
Received: 17 January 2020 / Accepted: 11 February 2020 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Environmental pollutant effects on fertility sometime are irretrievable. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lead acetate and quercetin on tight (claudin 11 and occludin) and gap junctional (connexin 43) proteins and the integrity of the blood– testis barrier status. Experimental groups, including the lead acetate (Pb), quercetin (QE), lead acetate with quercetin (Pb + QE), and control mice, were treated at least one spermatogenic cycle. Gene expression of claudin 11 and occludin decreased in Pb + QE, Pb, and QE compared with the control group. Connexin 43 (Cx43) expression in the control and Pb groups was lower than in Pb + QE and QE. The immunohistochemical data were generally in line with these findings. In conclusion, the results showed that Pb exposure led to disorders in cellular interactions that affect testicular function; however, simultaneous treatment with quercetin did not alleviate these effects. Keywords Heavy metals . Immunohistochemistry . Sertoli cells . Testosterone
Introduction Environmental pollutants and stressors impact on the health and efficiency of the living organisms through their effects on the nervous [1], cardiovascular [2], immune [3], reproductive, and endocrine systems [4], leading to disorders in homeostasis. Approximately 15% of couples present some degrees of infertility [5], even infertility studies in males are undertaken easier than females; although, contribution of males infertility is equal with females [6, 7]. Semen quality has decreased during the last decades. The endocrine disruptors and environmental pollutants such as heavy metals, fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides seem to be responsible for the general decline in semen quality [8]. Heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, and As) are not degraded and are therefore considered as persistent environmental contaminants [9].
* Zahra Khodabandeh [email protected] 1
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
2
Stem Cells Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
3
Li Ka Shing Center for Health Research and Innovation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Globally, lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous, toxic, and widely distributed environmental pollutant that affects almost every organ and cell in the body [10]. The effect of lead acetate on male reproduction has not been completely clarified, with most studies focusing on endocrine disorders [11], testicular structure [12], and sperm characteristics [13]. More recently, the effect of Pb on Sertoli cell, as a vital component of the testis involved in the development and maturation of germ cells, was reported [14–16]. One of the main mechanisms of lead-
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