Objective: To investigate the effect of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) on the testicular gene expression profile in the testis of mice.
Methods: Twenty male C57BL/6j mice were randomly divided into normal control group (fed with maize oil) and 3 OCDD groups treated with OCDD by gavage for 30 days at low-, moderate-, and high doses of 1.25×10(-6), 1.25 ×10(-5), and 1.25×10(-4) g/mL, respectively (8 mL/kg daily). The testicular gene expression profiles of the mice were investigated using gene chip technique and compared between OCDD-exposed groups and the control group.
Results: Compared with the control group, the mice in low-dose OCDD group showed 1133 differentially expressed genes, including 659 up-regulated and 474 down-regulated ones; in the moderate-dose OCDD group, 978 genes were differentially expressed, including 487 up-regulated and 491 down-regulated ones; in the high-dose group, 895 genes were differentially expressed, including 424 up-regulated and 471 down-regulated ones.
Conclusion: The effect of sub-chronic exposure to OCDD on testicular gene expression profiles in male C57BL/6j mice indicates that the testis is probably the target organ of OCDD.