الناز نوشادی راد - گروه زیست شناسی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران ایران
کاظم پریور - گروه زیست شناسی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
سعید متصدی رزندی - گروه مهندسی بهداشت محیط دانشکده بهداشت و ایمنی عمومی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهید بهشتی تهران ایران
پژمان مرتضوی - گروه پاتوبیولوژی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
بتول قربانی یکتا - گروه فیزیولوژی، دانشکده پزشکی، دانشگاه علوم پزشکی آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران

Introduction and Aim: Particulate matter (PM) is one of the major components of air pollutants and is composed of a mixture of liquid droplets or solid particles which are suspended in the air with a diameter of ۲.۵µm (PM۲.۵) or less. In this study, the co-exposure effect of ambient fine particulate matter (PM۲.۵) and gaseous pollutants was assessed on the expression of aquaporin-۹, GATA-۴, and GATA-۶ in testicles of male rats at the gene and protein levels.Materials and Methods: In this study, three experimental groups were assigned; the first group was exposed to gaseous pollutants along with PM۲.۵ and was called the TM group; the second group included rats exposed to only gaseous pollutants and was called the TJ group. The control group received clean air without any pollutants or PMs and was called the TC group. The exposure time was five hours per day which started from ۹:۰۰ A.M to ۱۴:۰۰ P.M for four days per week. The process of time exposure lasted six months. The levels of SO۲, NO۲, O۳, and PM۲.۵ were routinely measured. The UV fluorescence method was utilized for the measurement of SO۲, NO۲, and O۳, while the beta- attenuation technique was employed for the analysis of PM۲.۵.Results:  The results demonstrated that the concentration of PM۲.۵ in the exposed groups was significantly higher than the level recommended by the WHO, after six months, whereas the levels of SO۲, NO۲, and O۳ were significantly lower than the recommended levels. The order of increment in the levels of metals in PM۲.۵ was Al> Ca>Mn>Cu> Cd> Na > Fe > Cr> Ni> Mn > Pb.Conclusion: According to our findings, it is concluded that exposure to PM۲.۵ could cause male infertility problems and must be considered a health concern for males.

PM۲.۵ exposure, GATA-۴, GATA-۶, Aquaporin-۹