180. THE CONSEQUENCES OF ACRYLAMIDE EXPOSURE ON THE MALE GERMLINE

Acrylamide is a common industrial compound that has recently been identified in cooked, carbohydrate-rich foods such as potato chips, breads and cereals. Acrylamide has been found to be a reproductive toxin in rodents, eliciting male infertility and transgenerational toxicity through the male germline; thus dietary exposure to the compound may have consequences for male fertility and reproduction in humans. The aim of this project was to elucidate the mechanisms of acrylamide toxicity in male germ cells of mice. Freshly isolated early male germ cells were exposed to acrylamide and assessed for cell viability and aberrant morphology. DNA damage in these cells was also investigated using a modified version of the Comet Assay, which allows for adduct specificity. Significant increases in cell death or aberrant morphology were not observed following acrylamide exposure (1 µM, 18 hours). However, a significant increase in DNA damage (125% increase in mean tail DNA assessed by Comet) was identified; which may originate from either the metabolic conversion of acrylamide to glycidamide, leading to glycidamide adducts, or from oxidative stress. Additionally, the regulation of cytochrome P450 gene expression was measured using real time PCR and early male germ cells were found to upregulate gene expression of cytochrome P450 enzymes in response to acrylamide exposure. Collectively, these results support a genotoxic mode of action of acrylamide toxicity, in addition to potential oxidative damage in male germ cells. However, the mechanism by which acrylamide elicits toxicity in germ cells requires further investigation. Future outcomes of this research may provide insight into factors necessary for the healthy development of offspring and aid in the risk assessment of dietary acrylamide exposure in humans.