Research Article

Maternal lead exposure during lactation persistently impairs testicular development and steroidogenesis in male offspring

  1. Hua Wang†,
  2. Yan-Li Ji†,
  3. Qun Wang†,
  4. Xian-Feng Zhao,
  5. Huan Ning,
  6. Ping Liu,
  7. Cheng Zhang,
  8. Tao Yu,
  9. Ying Zhang,
  10. Xiu-Hong Meng,
  11. De-Xiang Xu*

Article first published online: 13 JUL 2012

DOI: 10.1002/jat.2795

Additional Information

How to Cite

Wang, H., Ji, Y.-L., Wang, Q., Zhao, X.-F., Ning, H., Liu, P., Zhang, C., Yu, T., Zhang, Y., Meng, X.-H. and Xu, D.-X. (2012), Maternal lead exposure during lactation persistently impairs testicular development and steroidogenesis in male offspring. J. Appl. Toxicol.. doi: 10.1002/jat.2795

Author Information

  1. Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China

  1. †

    These authors contributed equally to this work.

*Professor De-Xiang Xu, Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
E-mail: xudex@126.com

  • †

    These authors contributed equally to this work.

Publication History

  1. Article first published online: 13 JUL 2012
  2. Manuscript Revised: 6 JUN 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 6 JUN 2012
  4. Manuscript Received: 21 APR 2012

Funded by

  • National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Number: 30671786, 31000664
  • Key Project of Chinese Minstry of Education. Grant Number: 208060

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Keywords:

  • lead;
  • steroidogenesis;
  • testis;
  • endocrine disruptor;
  • testosterone

ABSTRACT

Lead (Pb) is a testicular toxicant. In the present study, we investigated the effects of maternal Pb exposure during lactation on testicular development and steroidogenesis in male offspring. Maternal mice were exposed to different concentration of lead acetate (200 or 2000 ppm) through drinking water from postnatal day (PND) 0 to PND21. As expected, a high concentration of Pb was measured in the kidneys and liver of pups whose mothers were exposed to Pb during lactation. In addition, maternal Pb exposure during lactation elevated, to a less extent, Pb content in testes of weaning pups. Testis weight in weaning pups was significantly decreased when maternal mice were exposed to Pb during lactation. The level of serum and testicular T was reduced in Pb-exposed pups. The expression of P450scc, P45017α and 17β-HSD, key enzymes for T synthesis, was down-regulated in testes of weaning pups whose mothers were exposed to Pb during lactation. Interestingly, the level of serum and testicular T remained decreased in adult offspring whose mothers were exposed to Pb during lactation. Importantly, the number of spermatozoa was significantly reduced in Pb-exposed male offspring. Taken together, these results suggest that Pb could be transported from dams to pups through milk. Maternal Pb exposure during lactation persistently disrupts testicular development and steroidogenesis in male offspring. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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