Transcriptomic analysis of mouse testes with disordered spermatogenesis induced by high-dose BPA exposure during...

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Endocrinology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor with known adverse effects on reproductive health.
• Limited information exists regarding BPA's impact on testicular mRNA expression profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of BPA exposure on the transcriptome of mouse testes.
• To identify gene expression changes associated with BPA-induced spermatogenesis impairment.

Main Methods:

• Pubertal mice were administered varying doses of BPA (30 and 300 mg/kg/d) via intragastric gavage for 50 days.
• Transcriptomic analysis (RNA sequencing) was performed on testicular tissue.
• Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to validate key gene expression changes.

Main Results:

• BPA exposure for 50 days caused significant, dose-dependent sperm damage.
• Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant alterations in gene expression, with thousands of genes upregulated and downregulated at higher BPA doses.
• The extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction pathway was identified as significantly affected.
• RT-qPCR confirmed differential expression of specific genes (Plekha4, Cd24a, Fos, Srd5a1, Nrg3, Abca4).

Conclusions:

• Pubertal exposure to high-dose BPA significantly impairs spermatogenesis in mice.
• BPA exposure induces widespread changes in testicular gene expression, affecting pathways like ECM-receptor interaction.
• These findings highlight the potential risks of BPA on male reproductive health and provide insights into molecular mechanisms.