Lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) is a widely used broad-spectrum pyrethroid insecticide and is expected to cause deleterious effects on the male reproductive system. However, the effects of LCT on Leydig cell development during puberty are unclear. The current study addressed these effects. Twenty-eight-day-old male Sprague Dawley rats orally received LCT (0, 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg/kg body weight/day) for 30 days. The levels of serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone, Leydig cell number, and its specific gene and protein expression were determined. LCT exposure lowered serum testosterone levels at doses of 0.5 and 1 mg/kg and luteinizing hormone levels at a dose of 1 mg/kg, but increased follicle-stimulating hormone levels at doses of 0.5 and 1 mg/kg. LCT lowered Star and Hsd3b1 mRNA or their protein levels at a dose of 1 mg/kg. Immature Leydig cells were purified from pubertal rats and treated with different concentrations of LCT for 24 h and medium androgen levels, Leydig cell mRNA and protein levels, the mitochondrial membrane potential (△Ψm), and the apoptotic rate of immature Leydig cells were investigated. LCT inhibited androgen production at 5 μM and downregulated Scarb1 at 0.05 μM, Hsd3b1 and Hsd11b1 at 0.5 μM, and Cyp11a1 at 5 μM. LCT also decreased △Ψm at 0.5 and 50 μM. In conclusion, LCT can influence the function of Leydig cells.

Lambda-cyhalothrin（LCT）是广泛使用的广谱拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂，有望对男性生殖系统造成有害影响。但是，LCT对青春期Leydig细胞发育的影响尚不清楚。当前的研究解决了这些影响。28只雄性Sprague Dawley大鼠口服30天的LCT（0、0.25、0.5或1 mg / kg体重/天）。测定血清睾丸激素，促黄体生成激素和促卵泡激素的水平，Leydig细胞数及其特异性基因和蛋白质表达。LCT暴露在0.5和1 mg / kg的剂量下降低了血清睾丸激素的水平，在1 mg / kg的剂量下降低了促黄体激素的水平，但是在0.5和1 mg / kg的剂量下增加了促卵泡激素的水平。LCT降低了Star和Hsd3b1 mRNA或其蛋白水平为1 mg / kg。从青春期大鼠中纯化未成熟的Leydig细胞，并用不同浓度的LCT处理24小时，并研究雄激素水平，Leydig细胞mRNA和蛋白水平，线粒体膜电位（△Ψm）以及未成熟Leydig细胞的凋亡率。LCT在5μM时抑制雄激素生成，在0.05μM时下调Scarb1，在0.5μM时下调Hsd3b1和Hsd11b1，在5μM时下调Cyp11a1。LCT在0.5和50μM时也降低了△Ψm。总之，LCT可以影响Leydig细胞的功能。