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Research article2007Peer reviewed

Pre-pubertal Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure of young boars did not affect sperm In vitro penetration capacity of homologous oocytes post-puberty

Spjuth L, Gil MA, Caballero I, Cuello C, Alminana C, Martinez EA, Lundeheirn N, Rodriguez-Martinez H

Abstract

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plastic softener used in polyvinylchloride (PVC) products (e.g., plastic bags and medical equipment), has been reported to have toxic effects on animal reproduction and is considered an environmental hazard based, mostly, on rodent studies. However, the doses used in these studies are often considerably higher than that presumed in human exposure. In the present study we used young boars as model animals to assess the effects of pre-pubertal DEHP exposure on the ability of spermatozoa to penetrate homologous oocytes in vitro. Eight pairs of cross-bred male boar siblings were used. One brother in each pair became, at random, the test animal exposed to DEHP per os, three times a week, from 3 to 7 weeks of age while the other acted as the control, i.e., placebo-exposed. Semen was collected and frozen between 8 and 9 months of age and stored until spermatozoa were evaluated for their ability to in vitro penetrate in vitro-matured homologous oocytes post-thaw. Both the penetration rate and the number of spermatozoa per oocyte were considered within expected ranges for frozen boar semen of good quality. Penetration rate did not significantly differ (p > 0.05) between the groups with DEHP-exposed: 50%; control: 59%, which could be owing to a large variation between boars, and between replicates. The number of spermatozoa in the ooplasm was low and similar (p > 0.05) between the groups with DEHP-exposed: 1.5 and the control: 1.7. Under the conditions of the present experiment, pre-pubertal exposure to DEHP does not seem to cause a deleterious effect on the in vitro fertilizing ability of frozen spermatozoa post-puberty

Published in

Archives of Andrology
2007, Volume: 53, number: 3, pages: 141-147
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

      SLU Authors

      • UKÄ Subject classification

      Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use
      Animal and Dairy Science
      Veterinary Science

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01485010701271778

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/16575