학술논문
Early exposure to paracetamol reduces level of testicular testosterone and changes gonadal expression of genes relevant for steroidogenesis in rats offspring.
Document Type
Article
Author
Source
Subject
*STEROIDOGENIC acute regulatory protein
*HYDROXYSTEROID dehydrogenases
*GENE expression
*TESTOSTERONE
*ACETAMINOPHEN
*LUTEINIZING hormone receptors
*ANDROGEN receptors
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Language
ISSN
0148-0545
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effects of early paracetamol treatment on the testicular level of testosterone and expression of genes important for steroid biosynthesis and reproduction in male rats offspring. Rats were continuously exposed to paracetamol at doses of 5 or 15 mg/kg b.w. during pregnancy and the first two months of the postpartum development. Testosterone level was determined by ELISA. Profile of gene expression for the testicular steroidogenic factors were evaluated using the Real-Time PCR. Our results showed that paracetamol reduces testicular testosterone level and causes compensatory transactivation of genes important for steroidogenesis and reproductive capacity. We have observed significant over-expression of several genes involved in cholesterol transport and steroid biosynthesis e.g., genes for steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, luteinizing hormone subunit beta, gonadotropin and androgen receptors. Up-regulation of these genes with parallel testosterone reduction in the testicles could be the possible mechanism that maintains and prevents the loss of the steroidogenic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]