In Vitro Exposure to the Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Climbazole Impairs Human Sperm Motility, Hormonal Signalling, and Mitochondrial Activity
This study explores the endocrine-disrupting effects of climbazole (CBZ), an environmental and lifestyle stressor, on male fertility. The impact of CBZ on sperm vitality, motility, and molecular pathways related to hormone receptors and apoptosis was evaluated, in non-capacitated and capacitated con...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Eugenia Annunzi Francesca Paola Luongo Francesca Girolamo Rosetta Ponchia Sofia Passaponti Paola Piomboni Alice Luddi |
| author_facet | Eugenia Annunzi Francesca Paola Luongo Francesca Girolamo Rosetta Ponchia Sofia Passaponti Paola Piomboni Alice Luddi |
| author_sort | Eugenia Annunzi |
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| description | This study explores the endocrine-disrupting effects of climbazole (CBZ), an environmental and lifestyle stressor, on male fertility. The impact of CBZ on sperm vitality, motility, and molecular pathways related to hormone receptors and apoptosis was evaluated, in non-capacitated and capacitated conditions. Gene expression of key components, including hormone receptors (<i>ESR1</i>, <i>ESR2</i>, <i>FSHR</i>, <i>AR</i>), apoptosis-related genes (<i>BAX</i>, <i>BCL2</i>), and <i>COX4l1</i> (involved in mitochondrial function), was analyzed. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation, a marker of capacitation, was also examined using immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. We demonstrated that CBZ significantly reduced sperm vitality at concentrations above 25 µM and motility at 1 and 10 µM in non-capacitated and capacitated conditions. Changes in tyrosine phosphorylation patterns were also observed. Gene expression analysis revealed an upregulation of <i>ESR1</i>, <i>ESR2</i>, <i>FSHR</i>, and <i>BAX</i>, while <i>AR</i> and <i>COX4l1</i> expression were downregulated. These findings offer new insights into the potential endocrine-disrupting and cytotoxic effects of CBZ, highlighting its potential role in compromising male reproductive health. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-2de86dcec479464fba2f5e9a68a935d72025-08-20T03:43:11ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-03-0114642710.3390/cells14060427In Vitro Exposure to the Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Climbazole Impairs Human Sperm Motility, Hormonal Signalling, and Mitochondrial ActivityEugenia Annunzi0Francesca Paola Luongo1Francesca Girolamo2Rosetta Ponchia3Sofia Passaponti4Paola Piomboni5Alice Luddi6Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyThis study explores the endocrine-disrupting effects of climbazole (CBZ), an environmental and lifestyle stressor, on male fertility. The impact of CBZ on sperm vitality, motility, and molecular pathways related to hormone receptors and apoptosis was evaluated, in non-capacitated and capacitated conditions. Gene expression of key components, including hormone receptors (<i>ESR1</i>, <i>ESR2</i>, <i>FSHR</i>, <i>AR</i>), apoptosis-related genes (<i>BAX</i>, <i>BCL2</i>), and <i>COX4l1</i> (involved in mitochondrial function), was analyzed. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation, a marker of capacitation, was also examined using immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. We demonstrated that CBZ significantly reduced sperm vitality at concentrations above 25 µM and motility at 1 and 10 µM in non-capacitated and capacitated conditions. Changes in tyrosine phosphorylation patterns were also observed. Gene expression analysis revealed an upregulation of <i>ESR1</i>, <i>ESR2</i>, <i>FSHR</i>, and <i>BAX</i>, while <i>AR</i> and <i>COX4l1</i> expression were downregulated. These findings offer new insights into the potential endocrine-disrupting and cytotoxic effects of CBZ, highlighting its potential role in compromising male reproductive health.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/6/427endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)male fertilityclimbazole (CBZ)semen qualityoxidative stress |
| spellingShingle | Eugenia Annunzi Francesca Paola Luongo Francesca Girolamo Rosetta Ponchia Sofia Passaponti Paola Piomboni Alice Luddi In Vitro Exposure to the Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Climbazole Impairs Human Sperm Motility, Hormonal Signalling, and Mitochondrial Activity Cells endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) male fertility climbazole (CBZ) semen quality oxidative stress |
| title | In Vitro Exposure to the Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Climbazole Impairs Human Sperm Motility, Hormonal Signalling, and Mitochondrial Activity |
| title_full | In Vitro Exposure to the Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Climbazole Impairs Human Sperm Motility, Hormonal Signalling, and Mitochondrial Activity |
| title_fullStr | In Vitro Exposure to the Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Climbazole Impairs Human Sperm Motility, Hormonal Signalling, and Mitochondrial Activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Vitro Exposure to the Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Climbazole Impairs Human Sperm Motility, Hormonal Signalling, and Mitochondrial Activity |
| title_short | In Vitro Exposure to the Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Climbazole Impairs Human Sperm Motility, Hormonal Signalling, and Mitochondrial Activity |
| title_sort | in vitro exposure to the endocrine disrupting chemical climbazole impairs human sperm motility hormonal signalling and mitochondrial activity |
| topic | endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) male fertility climbazole (CBZ) semen quality oxidative stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/6/427 |
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