title: [Effects of di-butyl phthalate on sperm motility and oxidative stress in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of di-butyl phthalate(DBP) on the sperm motility and oxidative stress in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy 6-week-old male Sprague Dawlay rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 8 in each group. DBP dissolved in peanut oil was administered by gavage at dosage of 0, 250, 500, 1,000 mg/(kg.d). After 4-week DBP exposure, the animals were killed and the organs were selected and weighed. The sperm VCL, VSL, VAP, BCF, ALH, LIN, MAD and STR in the cauda epididymis were assessed by computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and testis homogenate were measured simultaneously. The increase of body weight per day and the organ body weight ratio changes of the liver, testes and epididymides were also observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The liver organ body weight ratios of the treated groups were higher than those of the control (P < 0.01), while the testis organ body weight ratios were lower at dosage of 1,000 mg/(kg.d) DBP. Compared with the control group, the parameters of rat sperm VCL and ALH declined significantly at dosage of 1,000 mg/(kg.d) DBP. In addition, DBP showed inhibiting effect on SOD activities in the testis, and it was significant in the highest exposure group compared with the control (P < 0.05). However, there were no differences in serum SOD activities between the treated groups and the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DBP exposure may affect the sperm motility and the anti-oxidative systems. The testis is a vital target organ influenced by DBP.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.
authors.forename: Yubang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhengping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xinru
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate