慢性铝暴露对小鼠精子质量及睾丸细胞焦亡的影响

Effects of chronic aluminum exposure on sperm quality and testicular cell pyroptosis in mice

目的研究铝暴露对小鼠精子质量及睾丸细胞焦亡的影响。方法将12只成熟雄性c57bl/6j小鼠分为两组:对照组(n=6)、铝模型组(n=6),对照组用蒸馏水灌胃,铝模型组采用10 mg/(kg·d)AlCl_(3)灌胃,8周后,获取小鼠睾丸组织、附睾组织及附睾精子。对附睾精子进行精子质量分析,对睾丸及附睾HE染色进行病理检测;运用PCR、免疫组化检测睾丸组织细胞焦亡关键基因的mRNA和蛋白表达。结果与对照组相比,铝暴露的小鼠睾丸重量、附睾重量、精子活力、精子数量均显著下降(P<0.01),精子畸形率显著增加(P<0.01)。睾丸形态学观察结果显示,铝暴露小鼠睾丸生精小管中细胞排列紊乱,生精小管的面积和直径减小,管内精子减少。PCR及免疫组化结果显示,铝暴露小鼠睾丸组织中焦亡关键基因Nlrp3、Caspase-1、Gsdmd和IL-1b的mRNA及蛋白表达均上调(P<0.01)。结论铝暴露可降低小鼠的精子质量,促进睾丸细胞焦亡,从而损伤雄性生殖系统。

Objective To study the effects of chronic aluminum exposure on sperm quality and testicular cell pyroptosis in mice.Methods Twelve mature male c57bl/6j mice were divided into control group(n=6),and aluminum model group(n=6).The mice in the control group were gavaged with distilled water,and the mice in the aluminum model group were gavaged with 10 mg/(kg·d)AlCl_(3).Eight weeks later,testicular tissue,epididymal tissue and epididymal sperms of mice were obtained.The quality of the epididymis sperms was analyzed,and HE staining of the testis and epididymis was performed for pathological detection.PCR and immunohistochemistry were employed to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of key pyrogenic genes in testicular tissue.Results Compared with the control group,the testicular weight,epididymal weight,sperm motility,and sperm number of mice exposed to aluminum significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the sperm malformation rate significantly increased(P<0.01).The morphological observation of testis showed that the cells in the seminiferous tubules of aluminum-exposed mice were disordered,the area and diameter of the seminiferous tubules were reduced,and the sperms in the tubules were reduced.The results of PCR and immunohistochemistry showed that the mRNA and protein expressions of Nlrp3,Caspase-1,Gsdmd and IL-1b were up-regulated in the testicular tissue of aluminum-exposed mice(P<0.01).Conclusion Aluminum exposure can reduce sperm quality and promotes testicular cell pyroptosis in mice,thereby damaging the male reproductive system.