Inhalation of vanadium modifies gap junctions in mouse seminiferous tubules

Abstract

Vanadium (V) adhering to inhaled particles has been associated with male reproductive alterations. Intercellular junction proteins, such as connexin 43, constitute the blood-testes barrier. These proteins are crucial for the reconstitution of the barrier during spermatogenesis. Normally, connexins are located between cell membranes but in cells exposed to certain metals or which are transformed, their location is altered. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the inhalation of vanadium pentoxide on the distribution of connexin 43 in seminiferous tubules of mice. Immunohistochemical localization of connexin 43 demonstrated the redistribution of the protein that increased with time of exposure while intensity of stain on the membranes decreased. In previous studies, reduction in the actin and γ-tubulin stain intensity upon V inhalation has been observed. All these alterations may explain the reprotoxic effect associated with vanadium.

Keywords:

• connexin 43
• vanadium inhalation
• seminiferous tubules
• gap junctions
• metals
• infertility
• particulate matter

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Raquel Guerrero-Alquicira, Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, for the histological tissue processing; also Armando Zepeda-Rodríguez and Francisco Pasos-Nájera for artwork with the figures. We also appreciate the technical assistance of Enrique Pinzón-Estrada and Ismael Torres-Saldaña, members of the vivarium staff of the Facultad de Medicina, UNAM. Alejandra Núñez-Fortoul edited the English of the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.