Postnatal exposure to octylphenol decreases semen quality in the adult ram.
The aim of this experiment was to determine if maternal exposure to octylphenol pre- and/or postnatally influenced FSH concentrations and semen quantity and quality in postpubertal rams. Rams were born to ewes that received twice-weekly s.c. injections of octylphenol equivalent to 1000microg/kg/day for one of the following periods: (1) day 70 of gestation (D70) to weaning (at 20 weeks postnatally; n=4); (2) D70 to birth (n=6); (3) birth to weaning (n=7), controls received corn oil from D70 to weaning (n=5). Rams were blood-sampled weekly and semen characteristics were evaluated at 1 year of age. Maternal exposure to octylphenol, pre- and/or postnatally did not affect FSH concentrations, semen volume, concentration, percentage live, motility or IVM/IVF characteristics. However, exposure to octylphenol from birth to weaning increased the number of morphologically abnormal sperm cells in the ejaculates of these rams.
Sweeney
T
T
School of Agriculture, Food Science, and Veterinary Medicine, Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. torres.sweeney@ucd.ie
Fox
J
J
Robertson
L
L
Kelly
G
G
Duffy
P
P
Lonergan
P
P
O'doherty
J
J
Roche
J F
JF
Evans
N P
NP
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000662:veterinary; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010636:Phenols; C474055:octylphenol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone