Crosstalk between BPA and FXRα Signaling Pathways Lead to Alterations of Undifferentiated Germ Cell Homeostasis and Male Fertility Disorders

Lauriane Sèdes (1) , Christele Desdoits-Lethimonier (2) , Betty Rouaisnel (1) , Hélène Holota (1) , Laura Thirouard (1) , Laurianne Lesne (2, 3) , Christelle Damon-Soubeyrand (1) , Emmanuelle Martinot (1) , Jean-Paul Saru (1) , Séverine Mazaud-Guittot (2) , Françoise Caira (1) , Claude Beaudoin (1) , Bernard Jégou (2, 3) , David H Volle (1)

1 GReD - Génétique, Reproduction et Développement
2 Irset - Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail
3 EHESP - École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique [EHESP]

Several studies have reported an association between the farnesoid X receptor alpha (FXRα) and estrogenic signaling pathways. Fxrα could thus be involved in the reprotoxic effects of endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol-A (BPA). To test this hypothesis, mice were exposed to BPA and/or stigmasterol (S), an FXRα antagonist. Following the exposure to both molecules, wild-type animals showed impaired fertility and lower sperm cell production associated with the alteration of the establishment and maintenance of the undifferentiated germ cell pool. The crosstalk between BPA and FXRα is further supported by the lower impact of BPA in mice genetically ablated for Fxrα and the fact that BPA counteracted the effects of FXRα agonists. These effects might result from the downregulation of Fxrα expression following BPA exposure. BPA and S act additively in human testis. Our data demonstrate that FXRα activity modulates the impact of BPA on male gonads and on undifferentiated germ cell population.

Keywords: Fertility; Germ cell; Testis; FXRα; Bisphenol-A

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Ecology, environment; Health; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Reproductive Biology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Toxicology; Ecotoxicology

Lauriane Sèdes, Christele Desdoits-Lethimonier, Betty Rouaisnel, Hélène Holota, Laura Thirouard, et al.. Crosstalk between BPA and FXRα Signaling Pathways Lead to Alterations of Undifferentiated Germ Cell Homeostasis and Male Fertility Disorders. Stem Cell Reports, 2018, 11 (4), pp.944-958. ⟨10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.08.018⟩. ⟨hal-01888869⟩