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Occupational Exposure to 50 ppm Isoflurane Impairs Sperm Parameters in Mice
Marina Zanin1, Antonio Sergio Varela Junior, Izani Bonel Acosta
1From the Program in Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil (M.Z.); RAC-Center for Teaching and Research in Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil (A.S.V.J., I.B.A., E.A.d.S., M.E.B.D.); Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil (M.I.G.); UNIPEX-GENOTOX Laboratory (Division of Anesthesiology)-Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil (M.G.B.); and Program in Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil (C.D.C.).
Objectives:
The aims of the study are to assess the effect of occupational exposure to isoflurane on the sperm quality of mice and to investigate whether cessation of exposure can restore seminal quality.
Methods:
Mice were exposed to 50 ppm of isoflurane for 5 hours per day over a 30-day period. Following this exposure, they were euthanized at predetermined postexposure intervals, and their sperm samples were analyzed for kinetics and viability parameters.
Results:
Occupational exposure to isoflurane can adversely affect sperm at 50 ppm, a concentration deemed safe by international occupational health conventions in some countries. These effects are marked by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and genomic damage, alongside alterations in sperm kinetics and acrosomal integrity. Furthermore, cessation of exposure does not guarantee restoration of cellular quality.
Conclusions:
Isoflurane at 50 ppm, previously deemed safe by some countries, impairs sperm kinetics and viability, potentially directing the spermatogenic process toward infertility and apoptosis.
Insights
Occupational exposure to isoflurane at 50 ppm negatively impacts mouse sperm quality, causing oxidative stress and DNA damage. Cessation of exposure does not fully restore sperm health, indicating potential long-term reproductive risks.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Toxicology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Anesthetic agents like isoflurane are widely used in healthcare settings.
- Occupational exposure limits for isoflurane are established, but their impact on reproductive health requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of 50 ppm isoflurane exposure on mouse sperm parameters.
- To determine if discontinuing isoflurane exposure can reverse any observed negative impacts on sperm quality.
Main Methods:
- Mice were exposed to 50 ppm isoflurane for 5 hours daily over 30 days.
- Sperm samples were analyzed for kinetics, viability, and acrosomal integrity post-exposure.
- Oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and genomic damage were assessed.
Main Results:
- Isoflurane exposure at 50 ppm led to significant adverse effects on sperm, including reduced motility and viability.
- Biochemical analyses revealed oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and DNA damage in exposed sperm.
- Sperm quality did not fully recover after cessation of isoflurane exposure.
Conclusions:
- Isoflurane at 50 ppm poses a risk to sperm health, potentially leading to infertility.
- The observed damage, including genomic alterations, suggests a need to re-evaluate current occupational exposure limits for isoflurane.
