Di-n-butyl phthalate prompts interruption of spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis, and fertility associated with increased testicular oxidative stress in adult male rats

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2017-08, Vol.24 (22), p.18563-18574
• Main Authors: Nelli, Giribabu, Pamanji, Sreenivasula Reddy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Animal behavior; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biochemical analysis; Body weight; Catalase; Cohabitation; Corn oil; Dehydrogenase; Dehydrogenases; Disorientation; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Enzymes; Estrus cycle; Exposure; Females; Fertility; Fertilization; Follicle-stimulating hormone; Glutathione; Glutathione peroxidase; Histopathology; Implantation; Lipid peroxidation; Luteinizing hormone; n-Butyl phthalate; Oils & fats; Oxidative stress; Peroxidase; Peroxidation; Phthalates; Rats; Reduction; Research Article; Rodents; Seminal vesicle; Seminiferous tubule; Sperm; Spermatogenesis; Steroidogenesis; Superoxide dismutase; Testes; Testosterone; Viability; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9478-3

Di- n -butyl phthalate (DBP) is extensively used as plasticizer, and it was ubiquitary released into the environment. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of DBP on reproductive competence in adult male rats. Adult male rats were received corn oil or DBP injection intraperitoneally (ip) at 100 and 500 mg/kg body weight on 90, 97, 104, and 111 days. Following completion of the experimental period, adult male rats were cohabitated with untreated proestrus female rats for determination of fertilization capacity. Then, adult male rats were sacrificed, and other reproductive endpoints were determined by histopathology and biochemical analysis. The results revealed significant reduction of fertilization potential by decrease mating, fertility indices with increase pre-implantation and post-implantation losses, and resorptions in normal female rat cohabitation with DBP-treated adult male rats. The testes, seminal vesicle tissue somatic indices, epididymal sperm count, motility, viability, and hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) sperm were significantly decreased with increased sperm morphological abnormalities in DBP-treated adult male rats. The disorientation of spermatogenic cells decreased the diameter and epithelial thickness of seminiferous tubule in the testicular histopathology of DBP-exposed rats. Significant reduction of testicular 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme levels and serum testosterone with increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were observed in DBP-treated groups. Higher testicular oxidative stress marker (lipid peroxidation product) with lower antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase levels in DBP-exposed groups was observed. From these results, it can be concluded that DBP increases oxidative stress; it leads to impairment of spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis, and fertility in adult male rats.