ABSTRACT
Vanadium is a metal present in particulate matter and its reprotoxic effects have been demonstrated in males and pregnant females in animal models. However, the effects of this metal on the reproductive organs of nonpregnant females have not been sufficiently studied. In a vanadium inhalation model in nonpregnant female mice, we found anestrous and estrous cycle irregularity, as well as low serum concentrations of 17ß-estradiol and progesterone. A decrease in the diameter of secondary and preovulatory follicles, as well as a thickening of the myometrium and endometrial stroma, was observed in the vanadium-treated mice. There was no difference against the control group with respect to the presence of the estrogen receptor α in the uterus of the animals during the estrous stage. Our results indicate that when vanadium is administered by inhalation, effects are observed on the female reproductive organs and the production of female sex hormones.
Subject(s)
Estrous Cycle/drug effects , Ovary/drug effects , Uterus/drug effects , Vanadium/toxicity , Administration, Inhalation , Animals , Estradiol/blood , Estrogen Receptor alpha/metabolism , Female , Mice , Ovary/pathology , Progesterone/blood , Uterus/metabolism , Uterus/pathologyABSTRACT
Importation of rams of high genetic value is a common practice in Mexico; nevertheless, reproductive variables of imported animals have not been followed along. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive function of Suffolk rams along their first reproductive season in Mexico (October to February). The behavior of values of scrotal circumference, sperm count and morphology, and circulating testosterone in Suffolk ram during its first reproductive season in Mexico are in line with the ones reported for Suffolk rams in other latitudes; however, in Mexico such changes are lower in magnitude. Neuroendocrine-reproductive changes induced by environmental stimuli such as changes in duration of light-dark cycles have been broadly documented and are accepted as inducers of seasonal changes in the ram's behavior. In this work, both testosterone concentration and sperm production were observed in December. These results show that Suffolk ram imported to Mexico maintain their cyclic testicular function, although it has a lower magnitude than in other latitudes. Causes of this condition are unknown, but they may be related to changes in the duration of the light-dark cycles prevailing in Mexico.
La importación de sementales de alto valor genético ha sido una estrategia común en México. Sin embargo, debido a que no se le ha dado seguimiento al desempeño reproductivo de tales sementales se llevó a cabo el presente trabajo para realizarlo en sementales Suffolk durante su primera época reproductiva en México (octubre a febrero). El comportamiento de los valores de la circunferencia escrotal, la cuenta y la morfología espermática, así como las concentraciones circulantes de testosterona de los sementales Suffolk durante su primera época reproductiva en México, coinciden con las que se notifican en la literatura para esos animales en otras latitudes, aunque en México son de menor magnitud. Los cambios neuroendocrinos-reproductivos derivados de los estímulos ambientales, como las variaciones en la duración de los ciclos luz-oscuridad, han sido ampliamente documentados y se aceptan como responsables de los cambios estacionales en el comportamiento reproductivo de los carneros. En este trabajo, la mayor concentración de testosterona, así como la mayor producción de espermatozoides se observó en diciembre. Estos resultados indican que los sementales Suffolk importados son capaces de mantener su función testicular cíclica, aunque ésta se manifiesta con menor magnitud que en otras latitudes. Se desconocen las causas de este comportamiento, aunque pueden estar relacionadas con los cambios en la duración de los ciclos luz-oscuridad que ocurren en México.
