Puberty exposure to cigarette smoke extract impairs adult spermatogenesis in the mouse.

Epidemiological studies suggested that exposure to cigarette smoke early in life is associated with long-term health risks. Using a nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) knockout (KO) mouse model, we found the sperm concentration and sperm motility were significantly lower in mice exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) beginning at 4 weeks of age compared to 8 week-old mice. Additionally, CSE exposure significantly decreased in vitro fertilization (IVF) and blastocyst rates in the Nrf2 KO mice compared to the wild-type (WT) mice. Exposure to CSE resulted in the highest expression of the antioxidant genes in the CSE-treated WT mice at 8 weeks of age, and it was the lowest in the CSE-treated KO mice at 4 weeks. The study concluded that puberty exposure to CSE significantly affects adult spermatogenesis in agreement with the antioxidant Nrf2 genotype.

Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.). 2018 Nov 02 [Epub]

Guili Zhao, Jinhua Mo, Ting Zheng, Yongchao Li, Xunwei Wu, Jun Huang, Guihong Liu, Zhaofeng Huang, Bolan Yu

Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, No. 63 Duobao Rd, Guangzhou, 510150, China; Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, No. 63 Duobao Rd, Guangzhou, 510150, China., Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Guangzhou, 510080, China. Electronic address: ., Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, No. 63 Duobao Rd, Guangzhou, 510150, China; Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, No. 63 Duobao Rd, Guangzhou, 510150, China. Electronic address: .