Impact of environmental pollutant on sperm and offspring of exposed animals

• Grant number: 21/12153-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2022
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Mutagenesis
• Principal Investigator: Daisy Maria Favero Salvadori
• Grantee: Geovana Cristina Ribeiro Lima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Reproductive health has received special attention due to the increased incidence of infertility in the human population. Among the main risk factors, especially for male infertility, are smoking, obesity, stress and occupational or environmental exposure to xenobiotics. Although there are some data demonstrating the deleterious action of these factors on gametogenesis, the molecular mechanisms related to decreased fertility are not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate genetic and cellular alterations in the spermatogenesis of mice exposed to environmental pollutant. In this research project, the effect of the azo textile dye C.I. Disperse Red 1 (DR1), commonly discarded in water bodies that can be used for human consumption, will be evaluated. The literature shows that the conventional treatment by chlorination does not eliminate the dye's toxicity, but, contrarily, it can enhance its toxic effect. The action of DR1 will be studied by evaluating the integrity of the acrosome, mitochondrial activity and sperm vitality of mice from the F0 generation and changes in the development of the F1 generation from the treated animals. It is expected that the results may contribute to the identification of molecular mechanisms associated with the decrease in male fertility as a consequence of exposure to environmental pollutant and may provide support for the development of strategies aimed at the commercialization, use and disposal of textile effluents. This study is linked to the INCT-DATREM (National Institute of Alternative Technologies for Detection, Toxicological Evaluation and Removal of Emerging and Radioactive Contaminants). (AU)