The toxic effects of nonylphenol on the reproductive system of male rats.
Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to 4-t-nonylphenol (NP) by gavage at dosages of 0, 125 and 250 mg/kg/day for 50 days. Organ weights of liver, kidney, testis and epididymis were measured. Sperm number in the head of epididymis was counted. Several hormones including testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone were measured. Testicular sections were observed by light and electron microscopy. Terminal dideoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay was performed to probe the apoptotic cells in seminiferous tubules. When rats were treated with nonylphenol at 250 mg/kg/day, the absolute and relative weight of epididymis decreased dramatically, while the relative weights of kidney and liver increased by 14 and 22%, respectively. In addition, the sperm density of the head of epididymis and the testosterone level descended at 250 mg/kg/day. The levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone increased in both nonylphenol treated groups. Pathological changes were detected by microscopy and the transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay showed that the number of apoptotic cells in testes increased with nonylphenol in a dose-dependent manner.
Han
Xiao D
XD
Immunology and Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, PR China. hanxdnju@hotmail.com
Tu
Zhi G
ZG
Gong
Yi
Y
Shen
Su N
SN
Wang
Xu Y
XY
Kang
Li N
LN
Hou
Ya Y
YY
Chen
Jian X
JX
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
D010636:Phenols; D014873:Water Pollutants; D013739:Testosterone; C025256:nonylphenol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone