Evaluation of immediate toxicity and repercussions in testicle in adult life after exposure to benzo (a) pyrene from juvenile to peripuberty in male rats

• Grant number: 19/07568-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2019
• End date: June 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Toxicology
• Principal Investigator: Arielle Cristina Arena
• Grantee: Beatriz Rizzo Paschoalini
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Among the substances with potential endocrine disrupters, the benzo(a)pyrene stands out, a persistent organic pollutant diffused on the environment. This substance has some well-established mechanisms in high dosage, however, our research group have shown that the BaP may directly impact the sperm quality in male rats treated with low dosage. Our study showed the BaP has potential endocrine disrupters in a highly androgen phase: juvenile and peripuberty. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate if BaP causes immediate reproductive toxicity and the possible testicular repercussions on male adult rats. For that, juvenile male Wistar rats (n=16/group) will be distributed in control group (corn oil + DMSO) and a group treated with 0.1 µg/kg/day of BaP during 31 consecutive days, by gavage. This animals organs will be evaluated on post-natal day (PND) 54 and 90, mainly the testicle, that will be analyzed regarding the oxidative stress, the testicular testosterone levels, hematological tests and comet assay (PND 90). Every data collected from this analysis will be submitted to statistical test for results evaluation.