Biomaterial Database

Effects of maternal 4-tert-octylphenol exposure on the reproductive tract of male rats at adulthood. 2006

Müfide Aydoğan, and Nurhayat Barlas

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hacettepe, 06532 Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey. mufide@hacettepe.edu.tr

Increases in human male reproductive disorders (testicular cancer, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and low sperm counts) might stem from increased exposure of the developing male to environmental estrogens. In the present study, we investigated the effects of octylphenol (OP), an estrogenic compound, exposure on the male reproductive system during the fetal period in which the development of reproductive organs and sexual differentiation occurs. Male rats were treated with OP in utero at doses of control (vehicle), 100 or 250 mg/kg/day. After birth, male rats were allowed to grow until adulthood, and then testes, epididymides, and prostate glands were investigated histopathologically. Sperm counts and percentage of abnormal sperm were determined. Seminiferous and epididymal round tubules were evaluated for tubule diameter, lumen diameter, and height of tubule epithelium. Treatment with OP caused abnormalities in the histology of the testis and epididymis and induced atrophy of prostate glands tubules. Although there were no differences in sperm counts among treatment groups, abnormal sperm percentages in the high dose group increased significantly. The results of this study demonstrate that maternally injected OP causes adverse effects on male reproductive tract at adulthood, especially on sperm structure.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009929	Organ Size	The measurement of an organ in volume, mass, or heaviness.	Organ Volume,Organ Weight,Size, Organ,Weight, Organ
D010636	Phenols	Benzene derivatives that include one or more hydroxyl groups attached to the ring structure.
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011297	Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects	The consequences of exposing the FETUS in utero to certain factors, such as NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; DRUGS; RADIATION; and other physical or chemical factors. These consequences are observed later in the offspring after BIRTH.	Delayed Effects, Prenatal Exposure,Late Effects, Prenatal Exposure
D011467	Prostate	A gland in males that surrounds the neck of the URINARY BLADDER and the URETHRA. It secretes a substance that liquefies coagulated semen. It is situated in the pelvic cavity behind the lower part of the PUBIC SYMPHYSIS, above the deep layer of the triangular ligament, and rests upon the RECTUM.	Prostates
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004785	Environmental Pollutants	Substances or energies, for example heat or light, which when introduced into the air, water, or land threaten life or health of individuals or ECOSYSTEMS.	Environmental Pollutant,Pollutant,Pollutants,Pollutants, Environmental,Pollutant, Environmental
D004822	Epididymis	The convoluted cordlike structure attached to the posterior of the TESTIS. Epididymis consists of the head (caput), the body (corpus), and the tail (cauda). A network of ducts leaving the testis joins into a common epididymal tubule proper which provides the transport, storage, and maturation of SPERMATOZOA.
D005260	Female		Females