Abstract
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is considered an endocrine disruptor with estrogenic activity. It is described as an environment-polluting industrial chemical whose adverse effects on the male reproductive system depend on the period of exposure (i.e., fetal, prepubertal, or adult life). We exposed male mice to BPA during the fetal-perinatal period (from 10 days post coitum to 31 days post partum) and investigated the impact of this early-life exposure on gamete health in adulthood animals at 78 days of age. Both in control and BPA-exposed mice, viability and motility of spermatozoa, as well as sperm motility acquisition and chromatin condensation of spermatozoa, have been evaluated. Results reveal harmful effect of BPA on viability and motility of sperm cells as well as on chromatin condensation status during epididymal maturation of spermatozoa. In particular, BPA exposure interferes with biochemical mechanism useful to stabilize sperm chromatin condensation, as it interferes with oxidation of thiol groups associated to chromatin.
Highlights
During spermiogenesis, round spermatids undertake an extensive morphological transformation useful to form elongated mature spermatids (SPT) whose chromatin is mainly packaged by protamines more than histones
We evaluated the percentage of SPZ with high DNA stainability (i.e., HDS) as well as thiol/disulphide status (i.e., TDS) in sperm samples collected from caput and cauda region of epididymis
Spermatozoa collected from caput and cauda epididymis have been morphologically and biochemically analyzed. e aim was to evaluate the impact of the fetal-perinatal exposure on gamete health in adulthood animals
Summary
Round spermatids undertake an extensive morphological transformation useful to form elongated mature spermatids (SPT) whose chromatin is mainly packaged by protamines more than histones (about 5% in mouse). Spermiation promotes detachment of mature SPT, i.e., spermatozoa (SPZ) from the nursing Sertoli cells. A rhythmic contraction of peritubular myoid cells surrounding seminiferous tubules propels SPZ until the caput region of epididymis [1]. Sperm maturation occurs during epididymal transit from caput-to-cauda, as SPZ acquire their potential motility and further remodel some cellular compartments and structures [2, 3]. In eutherian mammals, including mouse and human, inter-/intra-protamine disulphide bridges formation occurs during the epididymal transit. E neuroendocrine axis hypothalamus-hypophysisgonad finely regulates the production of mature and quality gametes. Any interference with the neuroendocrine axis interferes with gamete quality
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