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Transient systemic inflammation in adult male mice results in underweight progeny.
- Source :
-
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) [Am J Reprod Immunol] 2021 Jul; Vol. 86 (1), pp. e13401. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Feb 27. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Problem: While the testes represent an immune-privileged organ, there is evidence that systemic inflammation is accompanied by local inflammatory responses. We therefore examined whether transient systemic inflammation caused any inflammatory and functional consequences in murine testes.<br />Method of Study: Using a single systemic administration of Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists [lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or peptidoglycan (PG) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyIC)] in young adult male mice, we assessed testicular immune-inflammatory landscape and reproductive functionality.<br />Results: Our findings demonstrated a significant induction of testicular TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 transcripts within 24 h of TLR agonist injection. By day 6, these cytokine levels returned to baseline. While there was no change in caudal sperm counts at early time points, eight weeks later, twofold decrease in sperm count and reduced testicular testosterone levels were evident. When these mice were subjected to mating studies, no differences in mating efficiencies or litter sizes were observed compared with controls. Nonetheless, the neonatal weights of progeny from LPS/PG/polyIC-treated sires were significantly lower than controls. Postnatal weight gain up to three weeks was also slower in the progeny of LPS/polyIC-treated sires. Placental weights at 17.5 days post-coitum were significantly lower in females mated to LPS- and polyIC-treated males. Given this likelihood of an epigenetic effect, we found lower testicular levels of histone methyltransferase enzyme, mixed-lineage leukaemia-1, in mice given LPS/PG/polyIC 8 weeks earlier.<br />Conclusion: Exposure to transient systemic inflammation leads to transient local inflammation in the testes, with persistent sperm-mediated consequences for foetal development.<br /> (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Cytokines metabolism
Histone Methyltransferases genetics
Histone Methyltransferases metabolism
Immune Privilege
Inflammation Mediators metabolism
Lipopolysaccharides immunology
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein genetics
Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein metabolism
Peptidoglycan immunology
Poly I-C immunology
Testis pathology
Infertility, Male immunology
Inflammation immunology
Orchitis immunology
Testis metabolism
Thinness immunology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1600-0897
- Volume :
- 86
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33576153
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/aji.13401