Organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos and its metabolite 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol downregulate the expression of genes essential for spermatogenesis in caprine testes.
Meenakshi MansukhaniPartha RoyNirmalya GanguliSubeer S MajumdarSouvik Sen SharmaPublished in: Pesticide biochemistry and physiology (2024)
Organophosphate pesticides have potent endocrine disrupting effects, hence banned in many countries. However, many organophosphates like chlorpyrifos, malathion et cetera continue to be used in some countries (Wołejko et al., 2022; Wołejko et al., 2022)including India. Fodder mediated ingestion of these substances may be harmful for livestock fertility. We have investigated the effect of the widely used organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) and its metabolite, 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol (TCPy) on the expression of genes essential for spermatogenesis in goat testicular tissue. The testicular Sertoli cells (Sc) regulate germ cell division and differentiation under the influence of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T). Impaired FSH and T mediated signalling in Sc can compromise spermatogenesis leading to sub-fertility/infertility. As Sc express receptors (R) for FSH and T, they are highly susceptible to the endocrine disrupting effects of pesticides affecting fertility by dysregulating the functioning of Sc. Our results indicated that exposure to different concentrations of CPF and TCPy can compromise Sc function by downregulating the expression of FSHR and AR which was associated with a concomitant decline in the expression of genes essential for germ cell division and differentiation, like KITLG, INHBB, CLDN11 and GJA1. CPF also induced a significant reduction in the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the testes and increased the total testicular antioxidant capacity. Our results suggested that CPF and its metabolite TCPy may induce reproductive toxicity by dysregulating the expression of Sc specific genes essential for spermatogenesis.
Keyphrases
- germ cell
- poor prognosis
- risk assessment
- genome wide
- binding protein
- genome editing
- long non coding rna
- metabolic syndrome
- gene expression
- skeletal muscle
- cell death
- type diabetes
- mass spectrometry
- gas chromatography
- smoking cessation
- signaling pathway
- drinking water
- drug induced
- high glucose
- liquid chromatography
- polycystic ovary syndrome