Delayed Puberty by Ziram Is Associated with Down Regulation of Testicular Phosphorylated AKT1 and SIRT1/PGC-1α Signaling

Chem Res Toxicol. 2018 Dec 17;31(12):1315-1322. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.8b00201. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Abstract

Ziram is a dimethyldithiocarbamate fungicide, which may influence the male reproductive system as a potential endocrine disruptor. We interrogated the disruption of ziram on rat progenitor Leydig cell development. Prepubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally treated with 0, 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg ziram for 2 weeks. We investigated the effects of ziram on serum testosterone levels, Leydig cell number, and Leydig and Sertoli cell gene and protein expression, SIRT1/PGC-1α levels, and phosphorylation of AKT1, ERK1/2, and AMPK in vivo. We also interrogated the effects of ziram on reactive oxidative species (ROS) level, apoptosis rate, and mitochondrial membrane potential of progenitor Leydig cells in vitro. Ziram decreased serum testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, the down-regulated Leydig cell-specific gene ( Lhcgr, Scarb1, Star, Cyp17a1, and Hsd17b3), and their protein expression. However, ziram stimulated anti-Müllerian hormone production. Ziram lowered SIRT1/PGC-1α and phosphorylated protein levels of AKT1. Ziram induced ROS and apoptosis and lowered the mitochondrial membrane potential of progenitor Leydig cells in vitro. In conclusion, ziram disrupts Leydig cell development during the prepubertal period potentially through the SIRT1/PGC-1α and phosphorylated AKT1 signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Fungicides, Industrial / chemistry
  • Fungicides, Industrial / toxicity*
  • Leydig Cells / cytology
  • Leydig Cells / drug effects
  • Leydig Cells / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Puberty, Delayed / etiology*
  • Puberty, Delayed / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Sirtuin 1 / metabolism
  • Testis / drug effects*
  • Testis / metabolism
  • Testosterone / blood
  • Ziram / chemistry
  • Ziram / toxicity*

Substances

  • Fungicides, Industrial
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Testosterone
  • Ziram
  • Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Sirt1 protein, rat
  • Sirtuin 1