Fol. Biol. 2016, 62, 34-39

https://doi.org/10.14712/fb2016062010034

The Impact of 4-Nonylphenol on the Viability and Hormone Production of Mouse Leydig Cells

T. Jambor1, J. Lukáčová1, E. Tvrdá1, Z. Kňažická1, Z. Forgács2, Norbert Lukáč1

1Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Slovak Republic
2National Institute of Chemical Safety, Budapest, Hungary

Received April 2015
Accepted January 2016

Exogenous substances altering the function of the endocrine system and exhibiting adverse health effects on the organism are defined as endocrine disruptors. Nonylphenol is one of the most abundant alkylphenol ethoxylate derivatives, being detected in food products. Diverse studies have classified nonylphenol as hazardous to the health, especially to male reproduction. This in vitro study aimed to examine the effects of 4-nonylphenol on androstenedione and testosterone production as well as on the viability of Leydig cells of NMRI mice. The cells were cultured for 44 h with addition of 0.04; 0.2; 1.0; 2.5 and 5.0 μg/ml of 4-nonylphenol and compared to the control. Quantification of testosterone and androstenedione directly from aliquots of the medium was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell viability was measured by the metabolic activity assay for mitochondrial functional activity. Androstenedione production significantly (P < 0.001) increased with 1.0; 2.5 and 5.0 μg/ml 4-nonylphenol. Although cAMP-stimulated testosterone production was not significantly affected by 4-nonylphenol, a tendency to attenuate the level of testosterone in the Leydig cells treated with 2.5 and 5.0 μg/ml 4-nonylphenol was observed. The viability of mouse Leydig cells was slightly increased at the lowest doses of 4-nonylphenol (0.04 and 0.2 μg/ml). We also observed an increase at higher concentrations of the substance (1.0; 2.5 and 5.0 μg/ml), but this increase was not significant. Further investigations are required to establish the biological significance and possible reproductive implications.

Funding

This study was supported by the European Commission under the Project No. 26220220180: Building Research Centre “AgroBio- Tech” and the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic VEGA, Project No. 1/0857/14.

References

21 live references