Corticosteroid-binding globulin, induced in testicular Leydig cells by perfluorooctanoic acid, promotes steroid hormone synthesis.

Corticosteroid-binding globulin, induced in testicular Leydig cells by perfluorooctanoic acid, promotes steroid hormone synthesis. Arch Toxicol. 2018 May 02;: Authors: Sun S, Wang J, Lu Y, Dai J Abstract Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an abundant perfluoroalkyl substance widely applied in industrial and consumer products. It is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and suspected endocrine disruptor. Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) is a monomeric glycoprotein that can bind specifically to anti-inflammatory steroids, such as glucocorticoids and progesterone, in circulation. Our previous proteomic profile analysis revealed that CBG levels increased in testes after PFOA treatment. In the present study, we verified its increase in mouse testes following oral exposure to PFOA (0, 1.25 and 5 mg/kg/day for 28 days) by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting. In addition, RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed that testicular CBG was specifically expressed in Leydig cells. Serum CBG levels in all three PFOA groups also increased, accompanied by increased corticosterone in the 5 and 20 mg/kg/day groups and decreased adrenocorticotropic hormone in the 20 mg/kg/day group. Thus, the influence of PFOA on blood CBG may change free steroid hormone concentrations, thereby serving as an endocrine disruptor. A stimulation effect of PFOA on CBG was also observed in vitro using the Leydig tumor mLTC-1 cell line. Over...
Source: Archives of Toxicology - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Arch Toxicol Source Type: research