Environmental obesogen tributyltin chloride leads to abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function by disruption in kisspeptin/leptin signaling in female rats

• Published in: Toxicology and applied pharmacology 2017-03, Vol.319, p.22-38
• Main Authors: Sena, Gabriela C., Freitas-Lima, Leandro C., Merlo, Eduardo, Podratz, Priscila L., de Araújo, Julia F.P., Brandão, Poliane A.A., Carneiro, Maria T.W.D., Zicker, Marina C., Ferreira, Adaliene V.M., Takiya, Christina M., de Lemos Barbosa, Carolina M., Morales, Marcelo M., Santos-Silva, Ana Paula, Miranda-Alves, Leandro, Silva, Ian V., Graceli, Jones B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; Animals; APOPTOSIS; BIOLOGICAL MARKERS; Endocrine Disruptors - toxicity; Endocrine-disrupting chemicals; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; ESTROGENS; Estrous Cycle - drug effects; Estrous Cycle - metabolism; Female; FERTILITY; FIBROSIS; GLUCOSE; HPG axis; Hypothalamic Hormones - antagonists & inhibitors; Hypothalamic Hormones - metabolism; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - drug effects; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - metabolism; HYPOTHALAMUS; INFLAMMATION; INSULIN; Kisspeptin; Kisspeptins - antagonists & inhibitors; Kisspeptins - metabolism; LEPTIN; Leptin - antagonists & inhibitors; Leptin - metabolism; MESSENGER-RNA; METABOLIC DISEASES; NERVE CELLS; Obesity; Obesity - chemically induced; Obesity - metabolism; OVARIES; Pituitary-Adrenal System - drug effects; Pituitary-Adrenal System - metabolism; RATS; Rats, Wistar; Reproduction - drug effects; Reproduction - physiology; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Signal Transduction - physiology; TESTOSTERONE; TIN; Trialkyltin Compounds - toxicity; Tributyltin chloride
• ISSN: 0041-008X; 1096-0333
• DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2017.01.021

Tributyltin chloride (TBT) is a xenobiotic used as a biocide in antifouling paints that has been demonstrated to induce endocrine-disrupting effects, such as obesity and reproductive abnormalities. An integrative metabolic control in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis was exerted by leptin. However, studies that have investigated the obesogenic TBT effects on the HPG axis are especially rare. We investigated whether metabolic disorders as a result of TBT are correlated with abnormal hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis function, as well as kisspeptin (Kiss) action. Female Wistar rats were administered vehicle and TBT (100ng/kg/day) for 15days via gavage. We analyzed their effects on the tin serum and ovary accumulation (as biomarker of TBT exposure), estrous cyclicity, surge LH levels, GnRH expression, Kiss action, fertility, testosterone levels, ovarian apoptosis, uterine inflammation, fibrosis, estrogen negative feedback, body weight gain, insulin, leptin, adiponectin levels, as well as the glucose tolerance (GTT) and insulin sensitivity tests (IST). TBT led to increased serum and ovary tin levels, irregular estrous cyclicity, and decreased surge LH levels, GnRH expression and Kiss responsiveness. A strong negative correlation between the serum and ovary tin levels with lower Kiss responsiveness and GnRH mRNA expression was observed in TBT rats. An increase in the testosterone levels, ovarian and uterine fibrosis, ovarian apoptosis, and uterine inflammation and a decrease in fertility and estrogen negative feedback were demonstrated in the TBT rats. We also identified an increase in the body weight gain and abnormal GTT and IST tests, which were associated with hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia and hypoadiponectinemia, in the TBT rats. TBT disrupted proper functioning of the HPG axis as a result of abnormal Kiss action. The metabolic dysfunctions co-occur with the HPG axis abnormalities. Hyperleptinemia as a result of obesity induced by TBT may be associated with abnormal HPG function. A strong negative correlation between the hyperleptinemia and lower Kiss responsiveness was observed in the TBT rats. These findings provide evidence that TBT leads to toxic effects direct on the HPG axis and/or indirectly by abnormal metabolic regulation of the HPG axis. •TBT disrupted proper functioning of the HPG axis in female rats.•TBT leads to obesity and abnormal kisspeptin/leptin signaling in female rats.•TBT impairs GnRH neurons function, estrogen