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Maternal treatment with dexamethasone during gestation alters sexual development markers in the F1 and F2 male offspring of Wistar rats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 August 2016

S. O. Jeje  and
Y. Raji
S. O. Jeje*
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Reproductive Physiology and Developmental Programming, Department of Physiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria Department of Human Physiology, Cross River University of Technology, Okuku Campus, Cross River State, Nigeria
Y. Raji
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Reproductive Physiology and Developmental Programming, Department of Physiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
*
*Address for correspondence: S. O. Jeje, Department of Physiology, Cross River University of Technology, Okuku Campus, Cross River State, +234 Nigeria. (Email [email protected])
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Abstract

Maternal treatment with dexamethasone (Dex) in threatening preterm delivery alters activities at the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in the offspring. This alteration may interfere with reproductive function. The impact of gestational Dex exposure on male reproductive function of the offspring was investigated. A total of 25 pregnant rats randomly assigned to five groups (n=5) were treated with normal saline (control), Dex (100 μg/kg/day sc) during gestation days (GD) 1–7, 8–14, 15–21 and 1–21, respectively. Birth weight, anogenital distance (AGD), pubertal age, sperm parameters, hormonal profile and histopathology of testis and epididymis were determined in the F1 and F2 offspring. Results showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in pubertal age, serum corticosterone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) levels in the male offspring of DexGD 15–21 and 1–21 groups and a significant decrease (P<0.05) in serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, birth weight and AGD at birth in the male F1 offspring. In the F2 offspring, there was a significant reduction (P<0.05) in serum corticosterone, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone and GnRH when compared with the control. Dex treatment at GD 15–21 and 1–21 significantly reduced (P<0.05) sperm motility and normal morphology in the F1 and F2 offspring. Maternal Dex treatment in rats during late gestation may disrupt sexual development markers in the F1 and F2 male offspring.

Keywords

dexamethasonegestationpubertal age
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 101 - 112
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2016 

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