Effects of Atrazine and Fenoxaprop-Ethyl on Capacitation and the Acrosomal Reaction in Boar Sperm

Abstract

Atrazine is a herbicide of the chloro-s-triazine family. It inhibits photosynthesis in plants and is an endocrine disruptor, but its effects on human health are controversial. Fenoxaprop-ethyl, an aryloxy phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicide, inhibits the biosynthesis of fatty acids and provokes depolarization of membranes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro effects of both herbicides on capacitation, spontaneous acrosome reaction (SAR) and progesterone-induced acrosome reaction (PIAR) in boar sperm. Sperm capacitation is done in TALP-HEPES media for 4 hours. Capacitation and SAR are evaluated immediately; PIAR, 30 minutes later. LC50 for fenoxaprop-ethyl is 60 micromolar [corrected] and 40 micromolar [corrected] for atrazine. Fenoxaprop-ethyl induces capacitation at 60 micromolar [corrected] and SAR at all concentrations, also increases significantly PIAR. Atrazine decreased capacitation whereas increase significantly SAR and PIAR at all concentrations. It seems that fenoxaprop-ethyl and atrazine accelerate the capacitation and the acrosomal reaction, possibly via plasma membrane destabilization.

Notice of Retraction: Effects of Atrazine on the Acrosome Reaction of Spermatozoa in Eriocheir sinensis

“…AR is essential not only for sperm passage through the zona pellucida but also for membrane fusion between the sperm and egg [24], therefore atrazine will impact the crab's fertilization. Whereas in the previous study, there was a different conclusion: the same herbicide could increase significantly AR in boar spermatozoa [25]. The authors considered that atrazine accelerate AR via plasma membrane destabilization.…”

Fenoxaprop‐ethyl affects mouse oocyte quality and the underlying mechanisms

“…Unfortunately, its indiscriminate use has damaged the environment and even humans. Mammals are exposed to FE through the food chain, and it might harm their fertility or reproduction …”

The non-genomic effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on mammalian sperm

“…However, before spermatozoa become able to undergo the acrosome reaction, they must undergo capacitation, a process without which they do not become functionally competent, and little is known about the potential effects of pesticides in this process. Apart from p,p'-DDE and atrazine, which were able to suppress capacitation markers in human and boar sperm (Maravilla-Galván et al 2009, Tavares et al 2015, and fenoxaprop-ethyl, which was found to increase capacitation (MaravillaGalván et al 2009), to our knowledge no other in vitro studies have been performed. Nevertheless, the concentrations used to obtain such findings cannot be considered environmentally relevant.…”

“…Fenoxaprop-ethyl, atrazine, and organophosphates such as parathion and its active metabolite paraoxon were also found to induce the acrosome reaction in vitro (Contreras et al 1999, Maravilla-Galván et al 2009). However, before spermatozoa become able to undergo the acrosome reaction, they must undergo capacitation, a process without which they do not become functionally competent, and little is known about the potential effects of pesticides in this process.…”