Background: Diazinon (DZN), a widely used organophosphorus pesticide, exerts toxic effects on the reproductive system. In this study, we investigated its effects on neonatal testicular development using mouse testicular fragments cultured in vitro. Methods: Male mouse testis fragments were cultured in vitro with varying concentrations of DZN for 5 days to assess spermatogenic toxicity. Histology, immunostaining, DHE staining, qPCR, and Western blotting were used to evaluate cellular damage, oxidative stress, and gene/protein expression. Results: Histological analysis showed that 50-100 μM diazinon (DZN) induced vacuolization of seminiferous tubules, whereas lower concentrations had no significant morphological effects. Gene and protein expression analyses revealed substantial reductions in both undifferentiated and differentiated germ cell markers (SALL4, DDX4, and SYCP3), indicating germ cell loss. Immunostaining confirmed decreased proportions of DDX4- and SYCP3-positive cells in DZN-treated testes. Additionally, DZN impaired Sertoli and Leydig cell function, as shown by downregulation of key markers (SOX9, WT1, INSL3, and 3β-HSD), verified through immunostaining and western blotting. DZN also elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, as indicated by intense DHE staining in various testicular cell types. Correspondingly, oxidative stress-related genes (NRF2, HO-1, SOD1, and catalase) and HO-1 protein levels were significantly upregulated, confirming ROS overproduction. Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest that DZN induces germ cell loss and disrupts the Sertoli and Leydig cell functions in neonatal testes, primarily via oxidative stress and ROS-mediated damage.
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ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS Mouse testicular fragment (MTF) culture Histology and immunostaining RNA extraction and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction Immunoblotting Statistical analyses RESULTS Effects of DZN on neonatal germ cells Impacts of DZN on the Sertoli cells and steroidogenic activity of neonatal testes DZN increases ROS production in neonatal testes DISCUSSION CONCLUSION REFERENCES