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- Title
Transient systemic inflammation in adult male mice results in underweight progeny.
- Authors
Rokade, Sushama; Upadhya, Manoj; Bhat, Dattatray S.; Subhedar, Nishikant; Yajnik, Chittaranjan S.; Ghose, Aurnab; Rath, Satyajit; Bal, Vineeta
- 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. 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. 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. Conclusion: Exposure to transient systemic inflammation leads to transient local inflammation in the testes, with persistent sperm‐mediated consequences for foetal development.
- Subjects
ADULTS; ORCHITIS; WEIGHT gain; SPERM count; INFLAMMATION
- Publication
American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 2021, Vol 86, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1046-7408
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/aji.13401