Effect on acrylonitrile-induced germ cell apoptosis in male mice

Objective To observe the effect of acrylonitrile(AN) on the germ cell apoptosis during spermatogenesis in male mice.Methods 125 male mice aged 6～8 weeks were exposed to AN(0,1.25,2.5,5 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection for 5 days.Detected the apoptotic cells by flow cytometer after 7,14,21,28,35 days of exposure.In addition,detected the serum testosterone and observed apoptotic germ cells by the electron microscopic examination after 35 days of exposure.Results(1) The percentage of apoptotic cells in AN-treated groups was higher than in the control group in different time after exposure.The percentage of apoptotic cells had a significant difference at the dose of 2.50 mg/kg and 5.00 mg/kg on the 21~(st),28~(th),35~(th) day,compared with the control group(P0.05).The peak of germ cells apoptotic was on the 21st day after exposure.(2)The serum testosterone in AN-treated groups was(66.91±5.94),(25.82±1.82),(31.48±3.87)ng/dl,respectively.The serum testosterone had a significant difference at the dose of 2.50 and 5.00 mg/kg,compared with the control group(P0.01).(3)The early apoptotic cells and organelles configuration were observed in spermatogoniums,spermatocytes,spermatoblasts and Sertoli cells.Conclusion It is suggested that An can induce germ cell apoptosis at certain doses in vivo.