Increased expression of the testicular estrogen receptor alpha in adult mice exposed to low doses of methiocarb

• Published in: Journal of applied toxicology Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 446 - 451
• Main Authors: Han, Jiyou, Park, Mira, Kim, Jae-Hong, Kim, Ahyoung, Won, Miae, Lee, Dong Ryul, Ko, Jeong-Jae, Yoon, Ho, Sim, Se-Hoon, Lee, Kangseok, Bae, Jeehyeon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.07.2009; Wiley
• Subjects: 3,5‐dimethyl‐1,4‐methylthiophenyl‐N‐methylcarbamate; 4-methylthiophenyl-N-methylcarbamate; 5-dimethyl-1; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Body Weight - drug effects; CASA; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; endocrine disrupter; Endocrine Disruptors - toxicity; estrogen receptor; Estrogen Receptor alpha - biosynthesis; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Kidney - drug effects; Liver - drug effects; Male; male reproduction; Medical sciences; methiocarb; Methiocarb - toxicity; Mice; Mice, Inbred DBA; Organ Size - drug effects; Sperm Motility - drug effects; spermatogenesis; Spermatogenesis - drug effects; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Spermatozoa - metabolism; testis; Testis - drug effects; Testis - metabolism; Toxicology; Estrogen receptor; male reproduction; Spermatogenesis; Low dose; Rodentia; Male; Endocrine disruptor; testis; Testicle; 3,5-dimethyl-1,4-methylthiophenyl-N-methylcarbamate; methiocarb; Male genital system; Vertebrata; Reproduction; Mammalia; CASA; endocrine disrupter; Mouse; Adult animal; Computer aid; Hormonal receptor
• ISSN: 0260-437X; 1099-1263; 1099-1263
• DOI: 10.1002/jat.1417

Methiocarb is a widely used carbamate pesticide and a suspected endocrine disrupter. The objective of this study was to examine the in vivo effects of methiocarb at low doses on testicular expression of steroid receptors, spermatogenesis and sperm quality in adult mice. Eighteen‐week‐old DBA/2 males were treated with daily intraperitoneal injection of methiocarb (0, 0.03, 0.3, 1.0 or 3.0 µg kg−1 of body weight) for 20 days. Kidney and liver weights were significantly increased in the 1.0 or 3.0 µg kg−1 treatment groups (P < 0.05). The testicular expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) was significantly increased in mice treated with methiocarb as confirmed by Western blot analysis. The sperm production and sperm quality of the methiocarb‐exposed mice were not significantly altered as determined using a computer‐assisted sperm analysis system. Therefore, these results demonstrate, that although the exposure to methiocarb at low doses alters testicular ERα expression in adult mice, both sperm production and quality remain unaffected. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Methiocarb is a widely used carbamate pesticide and a suspected endocrine disrupter. The objective of this study was to examine the in vivo effects of methiocarb at low doses on testicular expression of steroid receptors, spermatogenesis, and sperm quality in adult mice. Eighteen‐week‐old DBA/2 males were treated with daily intraperitoneal injection of methiocarb (0, 0.03, 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 µg kg−1 of body weight) for 20 days.