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Mechanistic screening of reproductive toxicity in a novel 3D testicular co-culture model shows significant impairments following exposure to low-dibutyl phthalate concentrations
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Environmental Science. Stockholm University, Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab).
Stockholm University, Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab). Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Environmental Science.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6111-7435
Stockholm University, Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab). Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Environmental Science.
Number of Authors: 32024 (English)In: Archives of Toxicology, ISSN 0340-5761, E-ISSN 1432-0738, Vol. 98, p. 2695-2709Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

To improve the mechanistic screening of reproductive toxicants in  chemical-risk assessment and drug development, we have developed a three-dimensional (3D) heterogenous testicular co-culture model from neonatal mice. Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), an environmental contaminant that can affect reproductive health negatively, was used as a model compound to illustrate the utility of the in vitro model. The cells were treated with DBP (1 nM to 100 µM) for 7 days. Automated high-content imaging confirmed the presence of cell-specific markers of Leydig cells (CYP11A1 +), Sertoli cells (SOX9 +), and germ cells (DAZL +). Steroidogenic activity of Leydig cells was demonstrated by analyzing testosterone levels in the culture medium. DBP induced a concentration-dependent reduction in testosterone levels and decreased the number of Leydig cells compared to vehicle control. The levels of steroidogenic regulator StAR and the steroidogenic enzyme CYP11A1 were decreased already at the lowest DBP concentration (1 nM), demonstrating upstream effects in the testosterone biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, exposure to 10 nM DBP decreased the levels of the germ cell-specific RNA binding protein DAZL, central for the spermatogenesis. The 3D model also captured the development of the Sertoli cell junction proteins, N-cadherin and Zonula occludens protein 1 (ZO-1), critical for the blood–testis barrier. However, DBP exposure did not significantly alter the cadherin and ZO-1 levels. Altogether, this 3D in vitro system models testicular cellular signaling and function, making it a powerful tool for mechanistic screening of developmental testicular toxicity. This can open a new avenue for high throughput screening of chemically-induced reproductive toxicity during sensitive developmental phases.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024. Vol. 98, p. 2695-2709
Keywords [en]
Antiandrogen, Reproductive toxicity, Mechanistic toxicology, Minipuberty, Spermatogenesis, Testosterone
National Category
Pharmacology and Toxicology Medical Biotechnology (with a focus on Cell Biology (including Stem Cell Biology), Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Biopharmacy) Cell and Molecular Biology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-231547DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03767-6ISI: 001228217200001PubMedID: 38769170Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85193733134OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-231547DiVA, id: diva2:1877030
Available from: 2024-06-25 Created: 2024-06-25 Last updated: 2024-09-05Bibliographically approved

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Almamoun, RadwaPierozan, PaulaKarlsson, Oskar

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Pharmacology and ToxicologyMedical Biotechnology (with a focus on Cell Biology (including Stem Cell Biology), Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Biopharmacy)Cell and Molecular Biology

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