[Adverse effects of nonylphenol on the reproductive development of F1 male SD rats in sexual maturation period].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the adverse effects of perinatal exposure to nonylphenol (NP) on the reproductive development of F1 male SD rats in sexual maturation period.

METHODS

The pregnant rats were randomly divided into control, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg NP groups respectively. NP was administered to dams by gavage from gestation day 7 to weaning period. Rat pups were sacrificed at postnatal day 55. The concentration of serum testosterone was measured by radioimmunoassay. The epididymis was subjected to the determination of sperm count and motility while the testis was submitted to histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses.

RESULTS

Compared with control, the concentration of serum testosterone, sperm count and motility in the 200 mg/kg NP dose groups significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the histopathological examination revealed that NP-treated groups had higher rates of maldeveloped siminiferous tubules, smaller amount of Sertoli cells and weaker spermatogenesis. The expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) significantly decreased in the 200 mg/kg NP dose groups (P < 0.05). The expression of Arom in 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg NP dose groups was lower than that in control. There was no significant difference in ER expression between the control and NP-treated groups.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicated that 200 mg/kg Nonylphenol apparently damaged the reproductive development of F1 male SD rats in the sexual maturation period.