TITLE:
Combined Effects of Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) and Benzo(a)Pyrene on Fertility in Male Rats
AUTHORS:
Yujing Huang, Ji’an Chen, Weiqun Shu
KEYWORDS:
Di-n-Butyl Phthalate; Benzo(a)Pyrene; Male Reproductive; Protein Expression; Tubules Structure; Spermatogenesis
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.2 No.2,
May
7,
2014
ABSTRACT: Our previous studies revealed the polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbon and phthalic acid esters were the major organic pollutants
in the Jialing River and Yangtze River in the Three Gorges area, and they might
cause the toxicity in male fertility when combined. Thus we used di-n-butyl
phthalate (DBP) and Benzo(a)pyrene (Bap) as their representatives respectively
to explore their effects on the spermatogenesis in male rats. Male Sprague
Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and respectively exposed to
corn oil, Bap (5 mg/kg/d), DBP (250 mg/kg/d), and combined doses of Bap (5
mg/kg/d) and DBP (250 mg/kg/d) for 90 days. We observed a significant increase
in the stillbirth rate after Bap and combined treatments, while the mean area
of seminiferous tubules was reduced after Bap, DBP and combined treatments. Bap
and combined treatment had a sup- pressing effect on meiosis in germ cells, which
reduced the haploid contents and the ratio between haploid and diploid but
increased the tetraploid and diploid contents and the ratio between hap- loid
and tetraploid. These effects were more obvious in the combined group.
Furthermore, the ex- pression of a number of proteins was changed, of which was
associated with the oxidative stress and cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. Our
results suggest that Bap has significant toxic effects on male fertility, while
the combined treatment of Bap and DBP has more toxic effects.