Association of XRCC1 gene polymorphisms with idiopathic azoospermia in a Chinese population / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To assess the possible role of genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair gene XRCC1 (X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1) during spermatogenesis by investigating the associations of one promoter polymorphism (T-77C) and two exonic polymorphisms (Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln) in XRCC1 gene with risk of idiopathic azoospermia in a Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The genotype and allele frequencies of three observed polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism based on a Chinese population consisting of 171 idiopathic azoospermia subjects and 247 normal-spermatogenesis controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In our study, all the observed genotype frequencies were in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The 399A (GA+AA) allele frequency for idiopathic azoospermia subjects and controls was 0.216 and 0.269, respectively. Compared with GG genotype, the AA genotype of Arg399Gln showed a significant association with a decreased risk of idiopathic azoospermia (odds ratio = 0.315; 95% confidence interval = 0.12-0.86). However, no significant differences were found between the cases and controls for T-77C and Arg194Trp polymorphisms. The major haplotypes of XRCC1 gene were TCG, TTG and TCA, whereas no haplotypes appeared to be significantly associated with idiopathic azoospermia based on the cutoff of P < 0.05.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In a selected Chinese population, AA genotype of Arg399Gln appears to contribute to a decreased risk of idiopathic azoospermia, while we have not any evidence of involvement of XRCC1 T-77C and Arg194Trp polymorphisms in idiopathic azoospermia.</p>

Effects of carbaryl production exposure on the sperm and semen quality of occupational male workers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyse the male reproductive toxicity of carbaryl.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-one male carbaryl exposure workers and 46 male administrators in the office in a pesticide factory were selected as the exposure group and internal control group respectively, and 22 male administrators in a center for disease control and prevention were served as the external control group. In order to evaluate the exposure levels, the concentrations of carbaryl, methyl isocyanate, ammonia and phenol in the ambient air of the work place in these three groups were monitored simultaneously for three consecutive days. Moreover, three workers in the exposure group and the external control group were selected to evaluate the amount of carbaryl of individual and dermal contamination for three consecutive days. After the semen were collected according to the standard method, the workers'semen qualities were analysed with WHO method, the sperm morphology and the sperm motility were evaluated using micro-cell slide spectrum technology and computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the exposure group, the concentrations of carbaryl and phenol (52.41 mg/m(3) and 0.08 mg/m(3) respectively) were significantly higher than those in the internal and external control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Furthermore, in the carbaryl exposure area the geometric mean concentration of carbaryl with the individual sampling was 7.38 mg/m(3), and the geometric mean of dermal contamination detected in the carbaryl exposure area was 862.47 mg/m(2). Carbaryl was not found in the external control area (P < 0.01). The seminal volume [(2.39 +/- 1.44) ml] and the sperm motility [(1.77 +/- 0.61) grade] were significantly lower than those in the external control group (P < 0.05), and sperm motion parameters such as linearity (LIN, 39.89% +/- 6.00%), straightness (STR, 71.51% +/- 11.22%), straight line velocity [VSL, (26.29 +/- 7.84) microm/s] and beat cross frequency [BCF, (3.99 +/- 1.55) Hz] were lower than those in the internal and external control group (P < 0.05), while the abnormal rates of viscidity, sperm motility and total aberration rate were higher than those in the external control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Occupational exposure to carbaryl production can affect the workers'sperm and semen quality to certain extent.</p>

Effects of fenvalerate exposure on the semen quality of occupational workers / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the effects of fenvalerate exposure on the semen quality of occupational workers in order to find out the early effective biomarkers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two male workers who exposed to fenvalerate and 46 male administrators in the office in a pesticide factory were selected as the exposure group and internal control group, respectively, and 22 male administrators in a center for disease control were served as the external control group. In order to evaluate the exposed levels, the concentration of fenvalerate, toluene and xylene in the ambient air of working place in these three groups were monitored simultaneously for three consecutive days. After the semen were collected according to the standard method, the workers' semen qualities were analysed with University of California at Davis (UCDavis) method and the sperm motility were evaluated using computer assisted sperm analysis(CASA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the exposure group, the concentrations of fenvalerate were significantly higher than those in the internal and external control group (P < 0.01), while no significant difference of the concentration on toluene or xylene was found (P > 0.05). Sperm motion parameters in the exposure group such as linearity(LIN), straightness(STR), and the sperm count were decreased significantly, and the abnormality rate of viscidity, coagulation and sperm count were increased significantly as compared with the internal and the external control groups(P < 0.05). Furthermore, the sperm progression and beat cross frequency (BCF) in the exposure group were also lower significantly than those in the external control group(P < 0.05), while the abnormality rate of sperm progression was increased significantly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In such a low concentration, occupational exposure to fenvalerate can affect workers' semen quality, especially the sperm count and sperm movement ability.</p>

Effects of fenvalerate on reproductive and endocrine systems of male rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To evaluate the impairment of fenvalerate on reproductive and endocrine systems and clarify the mechanism of action.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Different doses of fenvalerate (0, 2, 4, 12, 60 mg/kg) were orally treated to the adult male SD rats for 15 days and 30 days, respectively. The levels of serum follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone(T) and testis homogenate T were determined by radioimmunoassay(RIA). Besides, the activity of testicular marked enzymes such as acid phosphatases(ACP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(gamma-GT) were examined, and sperm head counts were measured to explain the changes of daily sperm production(Spr).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In fifteen days, serum FSH levels markedly increased in rats exposed to fenvalerate of < or = 12 mg/kg groups(P < 0.01) and serum levels of LH increased in 12 mg/kg group(P < 0.01). In addition, T levels in testis homogenates decreased after treated with the doses of > or = 12 mg/kg groups compared with the control group(P < 0.01). In thirty days, serum contents of FSH were significantly elevated in the doses of > or = 12 mg/kg groups(P < 0.01) and homogenate levels of T were diminished in the low dose group(2.4 mg/kg) (P < 0.05). Activity of ACP increased in 12 mg/kg group after fifteen days(P < 0.05) and was restrained in the high dose group(60 mg/kg) in thirty days(P < 0.05), but the contents of gamma-GT were arrested with different doses dependently in the testis(P < 0.05). Fenvalerate caused dose-dependent reduction in sperm head counts and daily sperm production, which markedly reduced at the doses of > or = 12 mg/kg groups(P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Fenvalerate has obvious reproductive toxicity on male rats and can change their serum and testis homogenate levels of sex hormone or activity of testicular marked enzymes, which may be correlated with the impairment of Sertoli cell and spermatogenic epithelium.</p>