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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2009; 117(9): 449-454
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1112153
Article

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Impact of 4-Methylbenzylidene-camphor (4-MBC) during Embryonic and Fetal Development in the Neuroendocrine Regulation of Testicular Axis in Prepubertal and Peripubertal Male Rats

M.E. Carou 1 , B. Szwarcfarb 1 , M.L. Deguiz 1 , R. Reynoso 1 , S. Carbone 1 , J. A. Moguilevsky 2 , P. Scacchi 1 , O. J. Ponzo 1
  • 1Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • 2Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Further Information

Publication History

received 29.01.2008 first decision 20.08.2008

accepted 05.12.2008

Publication Date:
26 February 2009 (online)

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Abstract

4-Methylbenzylidene-camphor (4-MBC), an UV-B ray filter, belongs to the endocrine disrupters involved with alterations in the reproductive axis. Our target was to study the effect of 4-MBC on the neuroendocrine parameters that regulate reproduction in prepubertal and peripubertal male rats, which received this disrupter during embryonic and fetal development. 4-MBC was administered (sc) to female rats since pregnancy onset in doses of 20, 100 and 500 mg/kg/day. The litters were sacrificed at 15 or 30 days old to determine testicular weight, gonadotropin and prolactin serum levels and also GnRH and amino acids release from the hypothalamus. The exposure to 20 mg/kg/day only increased the LH serum levels in 30-day-old males. Doses of 100 and 500 mg/kg/day caused a decrease in testicular weight and in LH, GnRH and glutamate levels, in prepubertal rats (15-day-old specimens), and an increase in, gonadotropin (LH and FSH) concentration and aspartate levels in peripubertal rats (30-day-old specimens), without changes in testicular weight. Prolactinaemia remained unaltered in all groups. Results obtained show that the administration of high doses of 4-MBC during embryonic and fetal stage inhibits the testicular axis in male rats during the prepubertal stage and stimulates it during peripubertad stage. On the other hand in the case of low doses no significant effects were observed.

Key words

4-MBC - endocrine disrupters - GnRH - LH - FSH - male rats - excitatory amino acids - GABA - reproduction - testis

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Correspondence

O. J. Ponzo

Laboratorio de Endocrinología

Departamento de Fisiología

Facultad de Medicina

Universidad de Buenos Aires

Paraguay 2155. Piso 7°

CP 1113

Buenos Aires

Argentina

Phone: +54/11/5950 95 00 (int 2146)

Email: oponzo@fmed.uba.ar

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