BACKGROUND: To date, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes, e-cigs) have been used world- wide without people knowing the risks they were exposed. Recently, several scientific stud- ies have pointed out how e-cigs can generate carcinogens and how the exposure can lead to genomic damage through inhibiting of DNA repair or disrupting the redox homeostasis. However, some research underlined how this phenomenon can be avoided by setting the device to a low-voltage regimen. To test this feasibility, we show the effects of e-cig vapour generated from a low-voltage device filled with a nicotine-free liquid on rat testicular functions. METHODS: We investigated the chemical analysis of the e-cig vapour, the relative tes- tis weight through the gonadosomatic index (GSI), the testicular androgenic enzymes activ- ities, the testicular marker enzymes, the oxida- tive stress markers and the antioxidant and de- toxifying enzymes. Moreover, we analyzed the xanthine oxidase and the lipoxygenase activity, the cytochrome P450-linked activities and we performed the alkaline DNA unwinding test. RESULTS: The chemical analysis revealed the presence of carbonyls, such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein. Rats exposed re- ported a lower relative testis weight and high- er levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as tis- sue damage marker, along with an impairment of 3 βhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6P- DH) as key enzymes in the steroidogenesis path- way. The pro-oxidative environment was con- firmed by the higher amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the development of lipid peroxi- dation and protein carbonylation, as well as from the disruption of antioxidant capability. Finally, we observed a higher rate of DNA unwinding in white blood cell line and boosted lipoxygen- ase-linked activity, a tumour promotion marker. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that even with the setting of the device in weak condi- tion, exposure to e-cig vapours could alter the function of the gonads in male vapers.

Impairment of testicular function in Electronic Cigarette (E-Cig, E-Cigs) exposed rats under low-Voltage and Nicotine-Free conditions

Silvia Granata
Primo
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
Fabio Vivarelli
Investigation
;
Maria Teresa Rodriguez-Estrada
Supervision
;
Moreno Paolini
Writing – Review & Editing
;
Donatella Canistro
Project Administration
2021

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To date, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes, e-cigs) have been used world- wide without people knowing the risks they were exposed. Recently, several scientific stud- ies have pointed out how e-cigs can generate carcinogens and how the exposure can lead to genomic damage through inhibiting of DNA repair or disrupting the redox homeostasis. However, some research underlined how this phenomenon can be avoided by setting the device to a low-voltage regimen. To test this feasibility, we show the effects of e-cig vapour generated from a low-voltage device filled with a nicotine-free liquid on rat testicular functions. METHODS: We investigated the chemical analysis of the e-cig vapour, the relative tes- tis weight through the gonadosomatic index (GSI), the testicular androgenic enzymes activ- ities, the testicular marker enzymes, the oxida- tive stress markers and the antioxidant and de- toxifying enzymes. Moreover, we analyzed the xanthine oxidase and the lipoxygenase activity, the cytochrome P450-linked activities and we performed the alkaline DNA unwinding test. RESULTS: The chemical analysis revealed the presence of carbonyls, such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein. Rats exposed re- ported a lower relative testis weight and high- er levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as tis- sue damage marker, along with an impairment of 3 βhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6P- DH) as key enzymes in the steroidogenesis path- way. The pro-oxidative environment was con- firmed by the higher amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the development of lipid peroxi- dation and protein carbonylation, as well as from the disruption of antioxidant capability. Finally, we observed a higher rate of DNA unwinding in white blood cell line and boosted lipoxygen- ase-linked activity, a tumour promotion marker. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that even with the setting of the device in weak condi- tion, exposure to e-cig vapours could alter the function of the gonads in male vapers.
2021
Abstracts of 40° CONGRESSO NAZIONALE DELLA SOCIETÀ ITALIANA DI FARMACOLOGIA – THE SCIENTIFIC VALUE AND APPROPRIATE USE OF DRUGS
181
181
Silvia Granata, Fabio Vivarelli, Silvia Cirillo, Vladimiro Cardenia, Maria Teresa Rodriguez-Estrada, Moreno Paolini, Donatella Canistro
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/817279
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