Atrazine Induces Reproductive Toxicity in an In Vitro Spermatogenesis (IVS) Model
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Atrazine (ATZ) is a widely used herbicide, and most studies of its reproductive toxicity have been conducted in vivo using animal models, where ATZ disrupts redox homeostasis, leading to male reproductive dysfunction. However, its molecular mechanisms of action in human spermatogenic cells remain poorly understood. Huntington’s disease (HD), an autosomal dominant disorder caused by abnormal CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene, exhibits heightened oxidative stress sensitivity and mitochondrial dysfunction, which may further impair reproductive function. This study investigated ATZ effects on human spermatogenesis using an in vitro spermatogenesis (IVS) model derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), focusing on Nrf2-mediated oxidative responses and apoptotic regulation during spermatogonial stem cell-like cell (SSCLC) differentiation in wild-type (WT) and HD hiPSC lines. Methods: Two WT and two HD hiPSC lines carrying 44 (HD1) and 180 (HD2) CAG repeats were treated with ATZ (0, 0.01, 1, or 10 μM) for 30 days, followed by differentiation into SSCLCs for 15 days under continuous exposure. Expression of pluripotency (OCT4, SOX2), oxidative stress (NFE2L2, SOD1, GPX1, NQO1), cell cycle (CDK1), apoptosis (BCL2, BAX, CASP3, CASP9, FAS, FASLG), and spermatogenic markers (DAZL, ZBTB16, GFRA1, PIWIL2) were assessed by immunocytochemistry and qRT-PCR. Results: Long-term ATZ exposure affected pluripotency markers in hiPSCs and SSCLC…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Improving the translation of search strategies using the Polyglot Search Translator: a randomized controlled trial
- Nutritional, Physical, Cognitive, and Combination Interventions and Frailty Reversal Among Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity in patients with haematological malignancies in Italy: a retrospective, multicentre, cohort study
- A randomized, controlled trial of oral propranolol in infantile hemangioma
- Clinical phenotypes of delirium during critical illness and severity of subsequent long-term cognitive impairment: a prospective cohort study
- Increased physical activity improves sleep and mood outcomes in inactive people with insomnia: a randomized controlled trial
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.