title: Compounds from multilayer plastic bags cause reproductive failures in artificial insemination.
abstract: High levels of reproductive failure were detected in some Spanish sow farms in the Spring of 2010. Regular returns to estrus and variable reductions in litter size were observed. The problem started suddenly and did not appear to be related to the quality of the ejaculates, disease, alterations of body condition or any other apparent reasons. Subsequent studies determined that the problem was the origin of the plastic bags used for semen storage. Chemical analysis of the suspicious bags identified unexpected compounds such as BADGE, a cyclic lactone and an unknown phthalate that leached into the semen at concentrations of 0.2 to 2.5 mg/L. Spermatozoa preserved in these bags passed all of the routine quality control tests, and no differences were observed between storage in the control and suspicious bags (p > 0.05). In vitro fecundation tests and endocrine profiler panel analysis (EPP) did not show any alterations, whereas the in vivo tests confirmed the described failure. This is the first described relationship between reproductive failure and toxic compounds released from plastic bags.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Universidad de Zaragoza, Campus Rio Ebro, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nerin
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Research and Development, Magapor SL, Ejea de los Caballeros (Zaragoza), Spain [2].
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ubeda
authors.affiliation: 1] Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Universidad de Zaragoza, Campus Rio Ebro, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza [2].
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alfaro
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Research and Development, Magapor SL, Ejea de los Caballeros (Zaragoza), Spain [2].
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dahmani
authors.affiliation: 1] Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Universidad de Zaragoza, Campus Rio Ebro, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza [2].
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aznar
authors.affiliation: 1] Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Universidad de Zaragoza, Campus Rio Ebro, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza [2].
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canellas
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Research and Development, Magapor SL, Ejea de los Caballeros (Zaragoza), Spain [2].
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ausejo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010969:Plastics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry*; D012098:Reproduction; D012661:Semen; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics