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Effects of sub-chronic aluminum chloride exposure on rat ovaries
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
Aims:
This experiment investigated the effects of sub-chronic aluminum chloride (AlCl3) exposure on rat ovaries.
Main Methods:
Eighty female Wistar (5weeks old) rats, weighed 110-120g, were randomly divided into four treatment groups: control group (CG), low-dose group (LG, 64mg/kg BW AlCl3), mid-dose group (MG, 128mg/kg BW AlCl3) and high-dose group (HG, 256mg/kg BW AlCl3). The AlCl3 was administered in drinking water for 120days. The ovarian ultrastructure was observed. The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase, the contents of Fe, Cu and Zn, and the protein expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) in the ovary were determined.
Key Findings:
The results showed that the structure of the ovary was disrupted, the activities of ALP, ACP, SDH, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase, the contents of Zn, Fe and the protein expression of FSHR and LHR were lowered, and the content of Cu was increased in AlCl3-treated rats than those in control.
Significance:
The results indicate that sub-chronic AlCl3 exposure caused the damage of the ovarian structure, the disturbed metabolism of Fe, Zn and Cu and the decreased activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase in the ovary, which could result in suppressed energy supply in the ovary. A combination of suppression of energy supply and reduction of expression of FSHR and LHR could inhibit ovulation and corpus luteum development, leading to infertility in female rats.
