Potential of an in vitro mouse testicular organ culture system as a platform for mechanism-based evaluation of testicular toxicity

This study examined testicular toxicity induced by methoxyacetic acid (MAA) using an in vitro mouse testicular organ culture system. Testis tissues were cultured for 4 weeks and then exposed to MAA (1–4 mM) for 24 hours. Higher MAA concentrations reduced germ-cell viability and spermatocyte populations, accompanied by increased apoptosis. RNA-seq analysis revealed early transcriptional perturbations at 1 mM and broad suppression of cell-cycle and meiotic pathways at 4 mM. These findings characterize dose-dependent molecular and cellular changes associated with MAA-induced testicular toxicity.