Regulation of Gene Expression in Mouse Germ Cells Upon Exposure to Tetrabutyltin

Abstract

Tetrabutyltin is the starting material of the tributyltin and dibutyltin compounds. These tin compounds are starting materials for a wide range of organotin compounds used as stabilizers for PVC, biocides, fungicides, and anti-biofouling agents. It is commonly known that some of the environmental chemicals affect the human endocrine system. Since the 1970s, the harmful effects of endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), Tetrabutyltin (TTBT) have been extensively studied. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of TTBT on gene regulation and expression of genes in mouse germ cells. Mouse germ cells were treated with TTBT for 3 and 24 hrs, and global gene expression was analyzed by using customized Agilent mouse arrays. We identified genes that were >2-fold differentially expressed in TTBT-treated cells than control cells (P<0.05) and analyzed their functions through Gene Ontology analysis. In a total number of 687 genes, there was differential expression between TTBT-treated and control cells. About 471 and 350 genes exhibited 2-fold (P<0.05) increased or decreased expression at 3 and 24 hrs, respectively. Additionally, in 134 genes, common and significant changes were observed in two-time series. Functional analysis of these genes showed that there were significant enrichments in some of the processes related to the reproduction such as, female gamete generation, homeostatic process, cell differentiation, response to chemical stress and reproductive process. In conclusion, the present study provides an insight on the effects of TTBT on mouse germ cells. Furthermore, it also increases our knowledge on the underlying molecular mechanisms on the adverse effects of organotin on the reproductive system.