Particulate matter leaves a bitter taste in testes

New data show that bitter taste transduction has an essential role maintaining male reproductive health. This process is key in the inflammatory response to inhalable particulate matter and provides a mechanism by which exposure to particulate matter adversely affects male fertility. Bitter taste molecules could be potential targets for male infertility management.

A particulate matter exposure mouse model was established using intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and subsequent aerosol inhalation of OVA. In OVA-exposed mice, testis weight, testis coefficient, seminiferous epithelium height, tubular diameter, number of maturing spermatids and Johnsen score were notably reduced and arrangement of spermatogenic cells was disordered. These effects were attenuated in mice who also received oral baicalin, a bitter compound.