Polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans increased abnormal sperm morphology without alterations in aneuploidy: The Yucheng study.
In 1979, more than 2000 persons ingested rice oil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans; this event was called the "Yucheng accident." An increased percentage of oligospermia, reduced ability of sperm to penetrate oocytes, and reduced percentage of male offspring were reported in Yucheng men. This study examined whether the sperm sex ratio and chromosome aneuploidy are responsible for our observed findings in Yucheng men. In 1999-2000, Yucheng men and their neighborhood referents aged 37-50 years were recruited for physical examination, followed by semen analysis. The semen samples were analyzed for chromosomal aneuploidy through fluorescent in situ hybridization according to an established procedure in our laboratory. A total of 50 Yucheng men and 34 neighborhood referents volunteered to participate in the study. Although abnormal morphology was mildly increased, no differences were observed in sperm percentages, with normal numbers of chromosomes X, Y, and 8 in the two groups. The percentage of sperm with aneuploidy of the sex chromosomes or chromosome 8 and of that with diploidy did not vary between both groups. The normal X/Y sperm ratio was not different between the groups. However, among Yucheng men, 8% had a normal X/Y sperm ratio of >1.4, and no neighborhood referent showed such an elevated X/Y ratio. Chromosomal aneuploidy was not elevated in Yucheng men. The mechanisms underlying the reduced sperm capability of oocyte penetration and changed offspring sex ratio in Yucheng men remain undetermined.
Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan.
Ping-Chi
PC
Hsu
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350, Taiwan; Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Ming-Chieh
MC
Li
Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, An-An Women and Children Clinic, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Yeu-Chin
YC
Lee
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
Pao-Lin
PL
Kuo
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350, Taiwan; Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) and NTU Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan. Electronic address: leonguo@ntu.edu.tw.
Yueliang Leon
YL
Guo
D000328:Adult; D000782:Aneuploidy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D000072660:Teratozoospermia / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated dibenzofurans; Sperm aneuploidy; Sperm sex ratio; Yucheng