Journal Article

Toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1254) on human sperm motility

Jiang, Li-Gang, Cheng, Lai-Yang, Deng, Xiao-Hui, Shen, Yan-Jun, Chen, Chao, Chao, Lan, Kong, Shu-Hui, Liu, Shu-Zhen, Yang, Yang

2017

Overview

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are common environmental contaminants that represent a considerable risk to reproductive toxicity in exposed human populations. Although some experimental studies have suggested an association between the levels of PCBs and semen quality, the direct effects of PCBs on human sperm parameters remain largely unexplored. To this aim, a short-term in vitro incubation experiment that better imitated the putative exposure of sperm to Aroclor 1254 (a commercial PCB mixture) in male reproduction tissue was conducted. Human sperm were incubated with various concentrations (0, 1, 5, or 25 mg l-1) of Aroclor 1254 for different amounts of time (3 and 6 h) in vitro. Sperm motility parameters were analyzed with computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). The proportion of sperm with high mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected to explore the probable cause of sperm impairment. Human sperm exposed to continuous Aroclor 1254 exhibited: (i) reduced sperm motility and kinematic parameters, (ii) a proportion of sperm with high ΔΨm that decreased in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05), and (iii) increased levels of ROS compared with controls (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Aroclor 1254 can decrease sperm motility, which may culminate in increased ROS and general mitochondrial dysfunction, thus affecting the fertilization potential of sperm. Our findings suggest a broader understanding of the effect of Aroclor 1254 on human sperm.

• Publisher: Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd,Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd,Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd,Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subject: Adult / Apoptosis / Aroclor 1254; CASA; human sperm; mitochondrial membrane potential; reactive oxygen species; sperm motility / Biomechanical Phenomena / Cell motility / Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine) - toxicity / Dose-Response Relationship, Drug / Environmental Pollutants - toxicity / Health aspects / Humans / In Vitro Techniques / Infertility / Male / Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Mitochondria - drug effects / Motility / Olive oil / Organisms / Original / Oxidative stress / PCB / Polychlorinated biphenyls / Reactive oxygen species / Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism / Reproductive system / Rodents / Sperm / Sperm Motility - drug effects / Studies