Exposure to urban particulate matter (PM) has been linked to aggravation of various health problems in Korea. Recent studies have shown that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) leads to systemic inflammation and furthermore increases risk of cardiovascular disease. Although the effects of PM on the respiratory tract have been extensively studied, there were few studies about impact of PM on the urologic disease. Previously, we presented the results that whole-body long-term exposure to PM adversely affected the testis and lowered the quality of sperm. However, previous studies have shown a limitation in that we did not quantify expose fine dust. In this study, the effect of PM on infertility through quantify exposure to PM through the nasal inhalation model was studied, and at the same time, analysis was conducted by comparing it with the renal failure model.

Male Sprague-Dawley (SD, 10weeks, total 30) rats were used to establish animal models with PM nasal exposure 3 hours for 5 days. Irreversible unilateral ureteral obstruction was performed to induced renal failure. Specialized nasal only inhalation exposure chambers within the fume hood with HEPA-filter were used for the study. Carbon black (fine nanoparticle, provided by Ganomax Korea Ltd) was dispersed in the chamber, with a concentration of PM2.5 202±40.2 µg m3. Sperm quality, epididymal morphology, expressions of inflammatory markers, and expression in testicular tissues, and expressions of BTB junction proteins were detected.

The rats exposed to PM nasally had higher blood pressure than the control group. The group exposed to both UUO and PM showed less weight gain and less food intake than other groups. UUO rats treated with losartan (30mg/kg/day/ drinking water) experienced a significant decrease in both their systolic blood pressure (p<0.05) from 128±6 mmHg to 95±6 mmHg and their diastolic blood pressure from 51±2 mmHg to 46±3 mmHg. 
In the testis of PM exposure and kidney injury group, Angiotensin, AT1R, AT2R gene expression significantly increased. In addition, ET-1, VCAM-1, ICAM expression significantly increased compared to control group. However, ACE, ACE2 and Renin expression was increased comparted to control group. Rather, ACE expression decreased in the PM group and ACE2 expression increased in the kidney injury group. There was significant difference between the three groups in proportion of normal shape of sperm (p=0.034). However, there was no significant difference between the groups in sperm concentration and motility.

In the Nasal PM inhalation model, PM exposure was found to be associated with an increase in blood pressure. In the chronic kidney model, PM exposure was also found to have an adverse effect on blood pressure rise. Losartan can be used as potential ARB because they were found to decrease the blood pressure of hypertensive UUO with PM rats. In addition, acute PM inhalation has potential induced male reproductive dysfunctions in mice, which provided new insights into the toxicity of PM s in mammals.

In the nasal only PM inhalation model, acute PM inhalation has potential induced male reproductive dysfunctions in mice, which provided new insights into the toxicity of PM s in mammals. In addition, The results of this PM group were comparable to those of patients with renal failure.