Testicular steroidogenesis is not altered by 137 cesium Chernobyl fallout, following in utero or post-natal chronic exposure
Résumé
The testis is especially sensitive to pollutants, including radionuclides. Following the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, several of these radionuclides were emitted and spread in the environment. Subsequently, children presented some disruptions of the endocrine system. To determine whether these disruptions were due to 137 cesium(137Cs) exposure, the effects of chronic contamination with low doses of 137Cs in utero or from birth on testicular steroidogenesis in rats were studied. Contamination was continued for 9 months. No modification was observed in circulating level of hormones (17β-estradiol, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone) following in utero or post-natal contamination. Expression of several genes involved in testicular steroidogenesis was affected (cyp19a1, fxr, sf-1), without modification of protein expression or activity. Our results suggest that growing organismsmay be affected at themolecular level by 137Cs contamination at this post-accidental dose. © 2010 Académie des sciences.
Mots clés
aromatase
cesium
complementary DNA
primer DNA
RNA
steroid
animal
article
biosynthesis
breeding
child
female
genetics
growth
development and aging
human
male
metabolism
microsome
nuclear power plant
polymerase chain reaction
pregnancy
radiation exposure
radioactive waste
rat
Sprague Dawley rat
testis
Ukraine
water supply
Animals
Aromatase
Cesium Radioisotopes
Child
DNA Primers
DNA
Complementary
Female
Humans
Male
Microsomes
Nuclear Power Plants
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Pregnancy
Animal
Radioactive Fallout
Rats
Sprague-Dawley
Steroids
Testis
Water Supply