Summary
Introduction:
This article investigates the effects of exposure to electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) vapors on testicular function in a rat model. The study used a low-voltage adjusted device and a nicotine-free e-cig liquid to better understand the contribution of these variables on toxicological outcomes.
Key Points:
* E-cigarette vapors contained volatile compounds such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein.
* Rats exposed to e-cigarette vapors had a lower relative testis weight and higher levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDh) as a tissue damage marker.
* Exposure to e-cigarette vapors led to an impairment of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-hSD), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-hSD), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDh) as key enzymes in the steroidogenesis pathway.
* The pro-oxidative environment was confirmed by higher amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the development of lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation, as well as from the disruption of antioxidant capability.
* higher rates of DNa unwinding in white blood cell lines and boosted lipoxygenase (LOX)-linked activity, a tumor promotion marker, were observed.
* No significant changes in testis tissue were found in the alkaline unwinding FaDU assay.
* CYP isoforms and lipoxygenase (LOX) were widely induced in testis from treated animals.
Main Message:
The study suggests that even with weak conditions of use, e-cigarette exposure can alter gonadal function in male vapers. The results highlight the need for caution in promoting e-cigarettes as a part of smoking cessation efforts, as the knowledge gap of the putative benefits or harms for public health is still too wide.
Citation
Vivarelli F, Canistro D, Cirillo S, Cardenia V, Rodriguez-Estrada MT, Paolini M. Impairment of testicular function in electronic cigarette (e-cig, e-cigs) exposed rats under low-voltage and nicotine-free conditions. Life Sci. 2019;228:53-65. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2019.04.059
