10 research outputs found
Cadmium impairment of reproduction in the female wall lizard Podarcis sicula.
The exposure to environmental toxicants such cadmium (Cd) is an important
research area in wildlife protection. In this study, the effect of Cd oral
administration on the ovarian structure and function and on reproductive
performance of the Italian wall lizard Podarcis sicula was studied. In vivo,
adult female lizards were randomly assigned to three groups. Cd was given with
food in single dose and in multiple doses 3 days/week for 4 weeks at dose of 1.0
ÎĽg/g body weight. Following euthanasia, the ovaries were removed and analyzed for
morpho-functional changes. Results demonstrated that Cd increases prefollicular
germ cells number; the evaluation of the number of follicles detects
significantly higher number of atretic growing follicles, whereas primary
follicles remain unchanged with respect to controls. After Cd treatments,
follicles are deformed by the presence of large protrusions and a general
dysregulation in the follicle organization is observed. The zona pellucida is
also affected. Cd causes alteration in sugar metabolism and in metallothionein
gene expression. Finally, Cd administration significantly reduces clutch size and
dramatically increases embryo mortality. In conclusion, data here described show
that Cd induces morpho-functional alterations in lizard follicles and indicates
that these are responsible for a significant impairment of oogenesis. The effects
of the dose are time independent, persisting essentially unchanged regardless of
single or multiple administration, so it can be concluded that even occasional,
sublethal Cd contamination may significantly impair reproductive performance in
these animals
Synthesis of mesoporous silica-polymer composite for the chloridazon pesticide removal from aqueous media
Effect of the environmental pollutant bisphenol A dimethacylate (BAD) on Ca2+ movement and viability in OC2 human oral cancer cells
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate: Adverse effects on folliculogenesis that cannot be neglected
Primordial follicle formation and the subsequent transition of follicles through primary and secondary stages constitute crucial events of oogenesis. In particular, in mammals, defects in the processes that precede and accompany the formation of the primordial follicle pool can affect the size of this population significantly, while alterations in follicle activation, growth and maturation can result in premature depletion of the follicle reserve or cause follicle arrest at immature stages. Over the last decade, in vitro and in vivo approaches have been used to provide evidence that exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP), the most widely used plasticizer, has a deleterious effect on various stages of folliculogenesis in rodents. There is growing concern, supported by epidemiological and experimental data, that DEHP may have similar effects in women. This article reviews the evidence, with particular reference to our own findings, that DEHP may actually exert a variety of adverse effects on mammalian folliculogenesis from early to final stages of oogenesis, including altered development of the primordial germ cells, impaired fetal oocyte survival and meiotic progression, reduced oocyte nest breakdown, acceleration of primordial follicle activation, altered follicle steroidogenesis and increased follicle atresia. These effects can cause serious complications for reproductive and nonreproductive women's health. In addition, emerging data indicate that phthalates, including DEHP, may cause subtle epigenetic changes in germ cells that can be transmitted to subsequent generations, with potential negative effects on human health. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 57:589-604, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc