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Toxicity study of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) administration on reproductive parameters in male albino rats

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Abstract

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)-administration was found to be toxic in mammalian systems and also known to affect the male reproduction in rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DEHP on the male reproductive system in a rat model. Three groups of six rats each, i.e. first group control (corn oil administered), second group DEHP administered at the rate of 850 mg/kg BW/day, whereas third group DEHP administered at the rate of 950 mg/kg BW/day for a period of 30 days, consecutively. Initially, final testes weights and sperm quality parameters of testes were evaluated. Oxidative stress markers, lysosomal enzyme activities and inflammatory cytokine levels in testicular tissue were analysed. Sex hormones and haematological parameters were also analysed in control and experimental groups of rats. The results obtained for Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) administered rats were compared with its respective controls with relevance to sperm count, sperm motility and daily sperm production rates, which were significantly decreased due to DHEP administration, whereas oxidative stress indicators were found to be significantly increased. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decreased activity of the antioxidant enzymes as super oxide dismutase (SOD), reduced levels of catalase (CAT) and glutathione content (GSH) recorded under DEHP administration. While testicular enzymes like γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were found to be significantly elevated during DEHP administrated rats. Oxidative marker enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity was found to be significantly decreased. β-Glucuronidase activity was significantly increased and acid phosphatase activity was significantly decreased, in response to DEHP administration into rats. Pro-inflammatory cytokinines such as tumour necrosis factor-1 α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels were significantly increased. Serum testosterone levels decreased, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and leutinizing hormone (LH) levels increased. Due to DEHP administration leucocytes, monocytes, neutrophils/granulocytes, erythrocytes and haemoglobin contents were significantly decreased, whereas lymphocytes, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), haematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) levels were found to be increased. Results obtained in the present study suggest that DEHP affecting the process of spermatogenesis through changing the activities of the enzymes responsible for the maturation of the sperm. The rate of production of sperm numbers from testes may be responsible for the antifertility effects of DHEP. The results obtained clearly suggests that disruption of cellular energetics in the testes may be responsible for the reported infertility on male rats.

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Data availability

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Department of Zoology, Sri Venkateswara University, for allowing us to use their laboratories for our research work.

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  1. Department of Zoology, Research Scholar, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, 517 502, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Venkataramanaiah Poli

  2. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences (Professor), Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, 517 502, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Srinivasulu Reddy Motireddy

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  1. Venkataramanaiah Poli
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Conceptualization, P.V.R.; methodology, formal analysis, investigation, resources, data curation, writing-original draft preparation, writing—review and editing, visualization, supervision, M.S.R.; all authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Srinivasulu Reddy Motireddy.

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Poli, V., Motireddy, S.R. Toxicity study of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) administration on reproductive parameters in male albino rats. Comp Clin Pathol 33, 75–84 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-023-03524-8

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