Styrene-Mediated Oxidative Stresses in Rat Sperm Cells

초록

Styrene is a commercially important chemical used mainly in the production of plastics. A toxic effect exerted by styrene exposure may cause infertility, congenital anomalies or death in offspring. Treatment with styrene for 0, 50, 100, and 500 mg/kg for 5 days in Sprague-Dawley rats significantly decreased sperm motilities and sperm counts while sperm abnormalities were significantly increased. To determine the relationship between changes in sperm motilities and roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we determined the effect of styrene on ROS production and mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes in rats. ROS production was enhanced by styrene treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) 2 was strongly suppressed by styrene treatment although SOD1 or glutathione peroxidase (GPX) 4 expressions were not significantly changed. Taken together, these results indicate that styrene may cause toxic effect in rat sperm cells by enhancing oxidative stresses.

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