Browsing by Author "Sarkar, Debarshi"

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A comprehensive review on the decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209)-induced male reproductive toxicity: Evidences from rodent studies
(Elsevier B.V., 2023-08-02T00:00:00) Sarkar, Debarshi; Midha, Parul; Shanti, Shashanka Sekhar; Singh, Shio Kumar
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), are employed in various manufactured products to prevent fires, slow down their spread and reduce the resulting damages. Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), an example of PBDEs, accounts for approximately 82 % of the total production of PBDEs. BDE-209 is a thyroid hormone (TH)-disrupting chemical owing to its structural similarity with TH. Currently, increase in the level of BDE-209 in biological samples has become a major issue because of its widespread use. BDE-209 causes male reproductive toxicity mainly via impairment of steroidogenesis, generation of oxidative stress (OS) and interference with germ cell dynamics. Further, exposure to this chemical can affect metabolic status, sperm concentration, epigenetic regulation of various developmental genes and integrity of blood-testis barrier in murine testis. However, the possible adverse effects of BDE-209 and its mechanism of action on the male reproductive health have not yet been critically evaluated. Hence, the present review article, with the help of available literature, aims to elucidate the reproductive toxicity of BDE-209 in relation to thyroid dysfunction in rodents. Further, several crucial pathways have been also highlighted in order to strengthen our knowledge on BDE-209-induced male reproductive toxicity. Data were extracted from scientific articles available in PubMed, Web of Science, and other databases. A thorough understanding of the risk assessment of BDE-209 exposure and mechanisms of its action is crucial for greater awareness of the potential threat of this BFR to preserve male fertility. � 2023 Elsevier B.V.
Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) exposure to lactating mice perturbs steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in adult male offspring
(Academic Press, 2020-12-29T00:00:00) Sarkar, Debarshi; Singh, Shio Kumar
Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) is widely used as a flame retardant in many products like electronic equipments, plastics, furniture and textiles. BDE-209, a thyroid hormones (THs)-disrupting chemical, affects male reproductive health through altered THs status in mouse model. The present study was designed in continuation to our earlier work to elucidate whether early life exposure to BDE-209 has a long term potential risk to male reproductive health. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the effect of maternal BDE-209 exposure during lactation and to elucidate possible mechanism(s) of its action on male reproduction in adult Parkes mice offspring. Lactating female Parkes mice were orally gavaged with 500, and 700 mg/kg body weight of BDE-209 in corn oil from postnatal day (PND) 1 to PND 28 along with 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)-treated positive controls and vehicle-treated controls. Male pups of lactating dams were euthanized at PND 75. Maternal BDE-209 exposure during lactation markedly affected histoarchitecture of testis and testosterone production with concomitant down-regulation in the expression of various steroidogenic markers in adult offspring. Maternal exposure to BDE-209 during lactation also interfered with germ cell dynamics and oxidative status in testes of adult mice offspring. A decreased expression of connexin 43 and androgen receptor was also evident in testes of these mice offspring; further, number, motility and viability of spermatozoa were also adversely affected in these mice. The results thus provide evidences that maternal exposure to BDE-209 during lactation causes reproductive toxicity in adult mice offspring. � 2020 The Authors
Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seed extract on the reproductive system of male mice and possible mechanism of its action on spermatogenesis
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2022-04-13T00:00:00) Singh, Akanksha; Sarkar, Debarshi; Singh, Shio Kumar
Fenugreek seed exhibits antidiabetic, antineoplastic, hepatoprotective, antidepressant and immunomodulatory properties. Fenugreek also causes antifertility effects in rodents. However, the impact of fenugreek seed on male reproduction and the possible mode of its action are not properly evaluated. Herein, we examined the effect of aqueous seed extract of fenugreek (FSE) and the possible mechanism of its action on male reproductive health in mice. Parkes mice were orally administered FSE (600�mg/kg body weight/day) or distilled water for 28 and 56�days, respectively. Various sperm parameters, histopathology, serum testosterone level and fertility indices were assessed. Furthermore, steroidogenic enzymes activities, oxidative status and germ cell dynamics in the testis were evaluated. Toxicological endpoints were also assessed. Treatment with FSE caused degenerative changes in the testis histoarchitecture. The treatment also affected various sperm parameters and concentrations of sialic acid and fructose in the epididymis and seminal vesicle, respectively. Fenugreek treatment also had negative impact on oxidative status and germ cell dynamics in the testis; fertility indices were also affected in female mice impregnated by the extract-treated male mice, though libido of the treated male mice remained unaffected. Results show that treatment with FSE caused adverse effects on the male reproductive health and pregnancy outcome in Parkes mice. � 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Localization and expression of Orexin B (OXB) and its type 2 receptor (OX2R) in mouse testis during postnatal development
(Elsevier Inc., 2023-02-24T00:00:00) Yadav, Anupam; Singh, Shio Kumar; Sarkar, Debarshi
The orexins (OXs) were first reported in hypothalamus of rat, and they play an important role in diverse physiological actions. The OXs consist of orexin A (OXA) and orexin B (OXB) peptides and their actions are mediated via two G-protein-coupled receptors, orexin 1 receptor (OX1R) and orexin 2 receptor (OX2R), respectively. Presence of OXA and OX1R has been also reported in peripheral organs like reproductive tissues. These findings, therefore, highlight a possible role of OXs and their receptors in male reproductive health. Though, expression and localization of OXB and OX2R in the testis and their role in spermatogenesis are not finally clarified. Herein, we elucidated the localization and the patterns of expression of OXB and OX2R in Parkes mice testes during postnatal development. Results suggest that the precursor prepro-orexin (PPO), OXB and OX2R are expressed at the transcript and protein levels in mouse testis throughout the postnatal development. Immunostaining further showed the localization of OXB and OX2R both in interstitium and tubular compartments of the testis. On 7 day postpartum (7 dpp), only spermatogonia showed immunoreactivity of OXB and OX2R, while at 14, 28, 42 and 90 dpp, immunolocalization of OXB and OX2R were noted in the seminiferous tubules, especially in leptotene, pachytene spermatocytes, round and elongating spermatids, and in Leydig cells and Sertoli cells. The immunoreactivity of OXB and OX2R appeared to be stage-specific in adult mouse testis. The results suggest the expression of OXB and OX2R in mouse testis and their possible regulatory role in spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis. � 2023 Elsevier Inc.
Ontogeny of TR?1 expression in the mouse testis and epididymis during postnatal development
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2022-06-27T00:00:00) Sarkar, Debarshi; Jaiswal, Asmita; Singh, Shio Kumar
Thyroid hormone (T3) acts on the testis via thyroid hormone receptor alpha 1 (TR?1), though the cellular localization of TR?1 in testis remains controversial. Studies on the presence of TR?1 in the epididymis are also lacking. The present study, therefore, examined the cellular localization and expression pattern of TR?1 in testis and epididymis of Parkes mice during postnatal development. Immunohistochemical results showed localization of TR?1 in interstitial and tubular compartments of the testis all through the development. On postnatal day (PND) 14, only leptotene spermatocytes showed TR?1-immunoreactivity in the testis, while at PND 28, 42, and 90, a diverse staining pattern for TR?1 was seen in almost all the seminiferous tubules mainly in leptotene spermatocytes, round and elongating spermatids, and in Leydig cells. Further, qRT-PCR and immunoblot analyses showed that TR?1 was expressed in the testis at the transcript as well as protein level throughout the postnatal development. TR?1 was also seen in principal cells of the epididymis, with maximal expression at PND 90. TR?1 was also present in cauda epididymidal spermatozoa of adult mice at PND 90. The results suggest that TR?1 is expressed in the testis and epididymis and that it may help to regulate the spermatogenic process and male fertility. � 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.