Objective To assess the effects of nonylphenol on spermatogenesis function and serum sex hormone testosterone of male mice.
Methods Forty Kunming adult male mice were randomly divided into control group(corn oil), lowdose nonylphenol group(25 mg/kg), middle-dose nonylphenol group(50 mg/kg), and high-dose nonylphenol group(100 mg/kg), ten mice for each group. Corresponding administrations were given by gavage every other day for 35 days. Then the mice were neutralized and serum samples were collected to assess serum testosterone level by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Left testis was used for biopsy, sperm suspension was prepared by both cauda epididymidis for sperm count under optical microscopy to calculate sperm viability and sperm malformation rate.
Results After 35 d, compared with the control group, the pathological sections of the 100 mg/kg nonylphenol group presented seminiferous tubule atrophy, combined with increased weight loss, declined testicular weight, sperm quantity, sperm activity, and increased sperm malformation rate(all P<0.05). The serum testosterone levels and sperm counts had obvious dose-response relationships with the concentration of nonylphenol in the exposed mice(r=-0.98, r=-0.96; P<0.05).
Conclusion Nonylphenol could damage the reproductive system of male mice to a certain extent, and high doses of nonylphenol could damage the spermatogesis function of mice.
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