2. Academic Validation
  3. Dibutyl phthalate induces oxidative stress and impairs spermatogenesis in adult rats

Dibutyl phthalate induces oxidative stress and impairs spermatogenesis in adult rats

  • Toxicol Ind Health. 2016 Aug;32(8):1467-1477. doi: 10.1177/0748233714566877.
Hamdy Aa Aly 1 2,  Memy H Hassan 2 3,  Hesham A El-Beshbishy 4 5,  Abdulrahman M Alahdal 6,  Abdel-Moneim M Osman 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia [email protected].
  • 2 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
  • 3 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, El-Madinah El-Munaworah, Saudi Arabia.
  • 4 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
  • 5 Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia.
  • 6 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • 7 Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
PMID: 25614580 DOI: 10.1177/0748233714566877
Abstract

Phthalates are abundantly produced plasticizers, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is the most widely used derivative in various consumer products and medical devices. This study was conducted to further explore the potential testicular toxicity of DBP in adult rats and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Adult male albino rats were treated orally with DBP at doses of 0, 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg/day for 15 consecutive days. Testicular weight, sperm count, and motility were significantly decreased. Treatment with DBP decreased serum follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone levels and testicular Lactate Dehydrogenase activity. DBP treatment also decreased serum total antioxidant capacity and the activities of the testicular antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase. Further, DBP treatment provoked degeneration with absence of spermatogenesis and sperms and necrosis in some of seminiferous tubules. These results indicated that oxidative stress and subsequent decrease in testosterone secretion were the potential underlying mechanism of DBP-induced testicular toxicity.

Keywords

Dibutyl phthalate; FSH; lipid peroxidation; testis; testosterone.

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