Boron as Testicular Toxicant in Mice (Mus domesticus)

Abstract

SUMMARY:It has been reported that boron causes changes in various systems, including the male reproductive system. Residents in some towns in northern Chile were consuming a few years ago in the drinking water 20 times more than the amount established as permissible limit by WHO. This study evaluates the effects in an animal model of high intake of boron on the testis. Boron was administered in the drinking water. Twenty male mice (Mus domesticus), sexually mature, were used, divided into 2 groups: the experimental group was given Boron at a dose of 12 mg/L, and the control group 0.6 mg/L, for 42 days. Sections of testis were obtained for: HE staining (Morphometry and Histopathology), Immunohistochemistry (Cox-2), Mallory and Picrosirious stain (evaluation of tunica albuginea). The results indicate that ingestion of a dose of 12 mg Boron/L produces vacuolization, tubular epithelial desquamation and tamponade. Morphometry revealed decreased tubular diameter and epithelial height and lumen diameter and increased interstitial area in the exposed group. Immunodetection of COX-2 was positive in high percentage of tubules in the intoxicated group. The tunica albuginea was thinner, with decreased percentage of type I collagen fibers and an increase in the percentage of type III collagen fibers in animals exposed to boron in contrast to the control group. Exposure to critical levels of boron produces severe histopathological changes in the testis, altering morphometric parameters and causing overexpression of Cox-2. Finally, evaluation of collagen fibers suggests that Boron produced a degradation of the collagen of the tunica albuginea, causing a decrease in the thickness of it and altering the percentage ratio collagen I/collagen III, a process called collagenolysis.

Effect of boric acid in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) growth performance

“…Among the studies on different animal species such as rat (Mus domesticus) and frog (Xenopus laevis) (Fort et al 1999;Bustos-Obregón and Olivares 2012), there are studies about the boron functions and availability in fish. Emiroğlu et al (2010) reported that the average boron concentrations in the muscles of Leuciscus cephalus varied from 7.34 ± 0.44 to 53.73 ± 21.25 boron mg kg -1 dry weight) in sampling stations depending on the distance to the active area of the borate industry.…”

Juan Eduardo Bustos-Obregón (1937-2014)

“…Como también la evaluación del rol protector de distintas sustancias, tanto químicas como naturales sobre la función reproductiva de los organismos expuestos a los contaminantes descritos anteriormente. (Contreras et al, 1996., Bustos-Obregón et al, 1998., ., , 2010, 2013., Vargas et al, 2011, Bustos Obregón & Olivares 2012., Valenzuela et al, 2014.…”

Motility Evaluation and Cryopreservation of Fish Sperm Exposed by Water-Borne and Food-Borne Boron

“…) in different forms such as borates, boric acid, boric oxide and salts (Samman et al, 1998;Bustos-Obregon and Olivares, 2012;Kabu and Akosman, 2013). Commercially important deposits of boron-containing minerals are found in the United States, Turkey, South America, Russia, and China (Woods, 1994).…”