Intrauterine hyponutrition reduces fetal testosterone production and postnatal sperm count in the C57BL/6N
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ABSTRACT: There has been growing interest in the relationship between maternal undernutrition and reproductive disorders in male offspring. In the present study, we determined the effects of maternal calorie restriction throughout the critical period for in utero development of the male reproductive system, termed the “masculinization programming window” on the reproductive system of mice. The intratesticular testosterone concentration of the fetuses of calorie-restricted (R) dams was lower than in control fetuses at 17.5 days post coitum. In addition, there was global down-regulation of genes encoding steroidogenic enzymes and a low sperm count in the offspring of R dams (R-offspring) at 6 weeks of age. Microarray analysis of the testes of the offspring identified dysregulation of several genes that might explain the derangement in spermatogenesis in the R-offspring. Thus, the present study provides insights into the impact of maternal undernutrition on the male reproductive system in mice. The deleterious effects probably originate in lower androgen exposure during the “masculinization programming window.”
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE186345 | GEO | 2021/10/22
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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