Reproductive toxicity induced by decabromodiphenyl ethane and protective effects of pea peptide in male rats
Objective To investigate the male reproductive toxicity induced by decabromodiphenyl ethane(DBDPE)and the protective effects of pea peptide in rats.Methods Forty SPF adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group,low-dose DBDPE group,high-dose DBDPE group,and high-dose DBDPE+pea peptide group.DBDPE and pea peptide were administered to the rats by gavage and drinking water,respectively,for 8 consecutive weeks.After cessation of the experiment,sperm vitality was analyzed using a sperm analyzer.The rapid sperm staining and hematoxylin-eosin(H-E)staining were employed to evaluate the morphologic changes of sperm and testicular structure.The protein expression of DEAD-box polypeptide 4(Ddx4),germ cell-specific marker,was detected by both of immunohistochemical staining and Western blot.The apoptosis of germ cells was revealed by TUNEL staining.In addition,proteins expression of apoptosis-related proteins including Bax,Bcl2,Caspase-3 and cleaved Caspase-3 were examined by Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,the sperm vitality and quality of the DBDPE-treated rats were significantly reduced(P＜0.05),with the sperm abnormality.The thickness of the spermatogenic epithelium of the seminiferous tubules in DBDPE-treated rats became thinner than that of control rats,and vacuolar degeneration in epithelium cells were observed.The expression of Ddx4 in germ cells of DBDPE-treated rats was decreased(LSD-t=4.85,LSD-t=6.90,LSD-t=2.94,P＜0.05),and the significant apoptosis of germ cells in the testes were also revealed by TUNEL staining in DBDPE-treated rats.The levels of Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 proteins increased,while Bcl2 expression decreased.The decrease of sperm vitality and morphological damage of testes were reversed to some extent by pea peptide.The pea peptide also significantly alleviated the apoptosis of germ cells induced by DBDPE.Conclusion DBDPE exposure to male rats result ed in obvious reproductive toxicity characterized by pathological damage of testicular tissue,apoptosis of germ cells,and decrease of sperm vitality,pea peptide could protect rats against the harmful effects of DBDPE.
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