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Aggravating effect of natural sand dust on male reproductive function in mice

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Reproductive Medicine and Biology

Abstract

Purpose

Although adverse health effects of environment (such as cadmium, pesticides, diesel exhaust, etc.) on the male reproductive system have been suggested, there is little experimental evidence of such an effect of atmospheric sand dust. In the present study, the effects of sand dust (mineral particles) were investigated on the male reproductive system of mice.

Methods

Two types of sand dusts (Asian sand dust and Arizona sand dust) were intratracheally administered (0.1 mg/mouse 4 times every other week) to ICR male mice and then male reproductive organ weight, daily sperm production (DSP), histological analysis and serum testosterone level were measured.

Results

Histological examination showed that interstitial edema was produced by both sand dust types, and partial vacuolation of the seminiferous tubules was detected in the exposed mice. Moreover, exposure to these natural sand dusts significantly decreased DSP. On the other hand, there was no significant differences in serum testosterone concentration.

Conclusions

These results suggest that natural sand dust-exposure produced adverse effects on mouse male reproductive function.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ms. Sayoko Nagayama and Ms. Kumiko Takahashi, Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences. This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A) (17689007) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences, 2944-9 Megusuno, Oita, Oita, 870-1201, Japan

    Seiichi Yoshida, Kyoko Hiyoshi & Takamichi Ichinose

  2. Environmental Chemistry Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0053, Japan

    Masataka Nishikawa

  3. Pathophysiology Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0053, Japan

    Hirohisa Takano

  4. Mycobacterium Reference Center, Research Institute of Tuberculosis, 3-1-24 Matsuyama, Kiyose, Tokyo, 204-8533, Japan

    Isamu Sugawara

  5. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba, 278-8510, Japan

    Ken Takeda

Authors
  1. Seiichi Yoshida
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  2. Kyoko Hiyoshi
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  3. Takamichi Ichinose
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  4. Masataka Nishikawa
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  5. Hirohisa Takano
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  6. Isamu Sugawara
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  7. Ken Takeda
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seiichi Yoshida.

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Yoshida, S., Hiyoshi, K., Ichinose, T. et al. Aggravating effect of natural sand dust on male reproductive function in mice. Reprod Med Biol 8, 151–156 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12522-009-0027-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12522-009-0027-8

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