Testicular steroidogenesis is not altered by 137 cesium Chernobyl fallout, following in utero or post-natal chronic exposure

Title: Testicular steroidogenesis is not altered by 137 cesium Chernobyl fallout, following in utero or post-natal chronic exposure

Author: Grignard E, Guéguen Y, Grison S, Dublineau I, Gourmelon P, Souidi M

Reference: Comptes Rendus Biologies, Volume 333, Issue 5, May 2010, Pages 416–423

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crvi.2010.02.003

Keywords: Steroidogenesis, Cesium, Chronic contamination, Chernobyl, utero exposure, postnatal chronic exposure

Abstract: 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 organisms may be affected at the molecular level by ¹³⁷Cs contamination at this post-accidental dose.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631069110000466