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Effect of in vitro exposure to lead chloride on semen quality and sperm DNA fragmentation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2014

M. Gomes ,
A. Gonçalves ,
E. Rocha ,
R. Sá ,
A. Alves ,
J. Silva ,
A. Barros ,
M.L. Pereira  and
M. Sousa
M. Gomes
Affiliation:
Department of Biology & CICECO, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810–193, Aveiro, Portugal.
A. Gonçalves
Affiliation:
Centre for Reproductive Genetics Prof. Alberto Barros, Av. do Bessa, 240, 1º Dto. Frente, 4100–009 Porto, Portugal.
E. Rocha
Affiliation:
Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050–313 Porto, E1, P2, R06, Porto, Portugal.
R. Sá
Affiliation:
Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, UMIB, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050–313 Porto, E1,P2,R07, Porto, Portugal.
A. Alves
Affiliation:
Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, UMIB, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050–313 Porto, E1,P2,R07, Porto, Portugal.
J. Silva
Affiliation:
Centre for Reproductive Genetics Prof. Alberto Barros, Av. do Bessa, 240, 1º Dto. Frente, 4100–009 Porto, Portugal.
A. Barros
Affiliation:
Centre for Reproductive Genetics Prof. Alberto Barros, Av. do Bessa, 240, 1º Dto. Frente, 4100–009 Porto, Portugal. Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200–319 Porto, Portugal.
M.L. Pereira
Affiliation:
Department of Biology & CICECO, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810–193, Aveiro, Portugal.
M. Sousa*
Affiliation:
Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology (Director), Building 1, Floor 2, Room 07, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), UMIB, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira.
*
All correspondence to: Mário Sousa. Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology (Director), Building 1, Floor 2, Room 07, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), UMIB, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050–313 Porto, Portugal Tel: + 351 220 428 000 (Faculty); + 351 220 428 246 (Office). Fax: +351–22 042 80 90 e-mail: msousa@icbas.up.pt
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Summary

Exposure to lead may cause changes in the male reproductive system. We evaluated the effect of lead chloride (PbCl2) in vitro on semen quality from 31 individuals. Samples were incubated at room temperature for two exposure times (4 h and 8 h) and with two concentrations of PbCl2 (15 μg/ml or 30 μg/ml). Results showed that PbCl2 significantly inhibited rapid progressive motility and caused an increase in the percentage of tail anomalies in both times and concentrations assessed, as well as a decrease in vitality in the group exposed to 30 μg/ml PbCl2. A significant increase in immotile sperm was also observed between the group control and the groups submitted to lead. Total motility and DNA fragmentation also showed a significant decrease and increase, respectively, after 4 h of incubation in the group exposed to 30 μg/ml and in both groups after 8 h of incubation. In conclusion, PbCl2 affected sperm parameters and DNA integrity, which are essential for male fertility.

Keywords

DNA fragmentationLead chlorideLead in vitro toxicitySemen analysisTUNEL assay
Type
Research Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , June 2015 , pp. 384 - 393
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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