Does exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in pre-pubertal boars affect semen quality post-puberty?
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plastic softener used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, has been ascribed to have toxic effects on animal reproduction. The present study aimed at determining potential late effects of pre-pubertal oral exposure to DEHP on semen quality in young pigs. Ten pairs of cross-bred male siblings were used. One brother in each pair became, at random, the test animal while the other acted as control. Test males were exposed to 300 mg/kg body weight (bw) of DEHP administered orally three times a week from 3 to 7 weeks of age. The control group was given placebo (water). Semen analyses started when the boars reached 6 months of age, with semen collected twice weekly, until animals were 9 months of age. Semen was evaluated for ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology (including presence of cells other than spermatozoa) and sperm plasma membrane integrity. Total sperm motility tended to be lower while local motility was higher in the DEHP-exposed group compared with controls (p = 0.07) when assessed by computer-assisted sperm analysis. The DEHP-exposed group had a significantly (p < 0.05) lower percentage of spermatozoa with tailless, defective heads (at 7-8 months of age) and double-folded tails (at 6-7, 7-8 and 6-9 months of age), compared with controls (albeit always under 5%). In summary, there were no obvious adverse effects of early oral exposure to 300 mg/kg bw of DEHP on sperm output and sperm quality in post-pubertal young boars.
Spjuth
Linda
L
Division of Comparative Reproduction, Obstetrics and Udder Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. linda.spjuth@kv.slu.se
Ljungvall
Karl
K
Saravia
Fernando
F
Lundeheim
Nils
N
Magnusson
Ulf
U
Hultén
Fredrik
F
Rodríguez-Martínez
Heriberto
H
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors
D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate