Epigenetic dysregulation of Mdr1b in the blood-testis barrier contributes to dyszoospermia in mice exposed to cadmium

Cadmium (Cd) has been reported to induce reproductive toxicity. Recent study indicated that aberrant epigenetic regulation of Multidrug resistance 1b (Mdr1b) causes xenobiotic efflux failure at the blood-testis barrier (BTB). However, whether Mdr1b dysregulation is involved in Cd-mediated dyszoospermia and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. In this study, mice were intragastrically administered 0 or 2.5 mg/kg CdCl2 every other day for 2 months to investigate changes in spermatogenesis and epigenetic regulation of Mdr1b. Mouse Leydig cells TM3 were cultured to detect Mdr1b expression localization. We found that the Cd group revealed BTB disruption concomitant with obvious sperm abnormity and dynamic impairment. Hypermethylation and decreased nuclear factor Ya (Nfya) recruitment to the Mdr1b promoter were correlated with low sperm motility in response to Cd. In conclusion, these findings provide in vivo evidence that epigenetic dysregulation of Mdr1b in the BTB is a potential cause of dyszoospermia upon Cd exposure.