II. The effect of p-nonylphenol on the fertility potential of male rats after gestational, lactational and direct exposure

There is growing concern that abnormalities in male reproductive health are becoming more frequent. The most fundamental change has been the striking decline in sperm counts and semen quality. The effect of maternal exposure of rats to the oestrogenic environmental substance p-nonylphenol (p-NP) was determined in this study. Exposure to p-NP for the experimental period impaired general growth. The lower testicular mass indicated a direct toxic effect on the testis in animals exposed to p-NP during foetal life, the postnatal period and after weaning until termination at 10 weeks of age. The epididymal mass was also negatively affected by p-NP; this was supported by the decrease in the epididymal ratio. The total cauda epididymal sperm count was significantly lower in the 250 mg kg(-1) p-NP dosage group compared to the control and 100 mg kg(-1) p-NP groups. The overall lower sperm count with increased p-NP concentrations corresponded with the decreased testicular and epididymal masses. This emphasized the toxicity of p-NP on both testis and epididymis. Seminiferous tubule diameter, lumen diameter and seminiferous epithelium thickness were smaller in the exposed groups, even at the low dose level. These histological measurements further supported the finding of a low testicular mass. In spite of the measurements being smaller, p-NP had no effect on the stages of spermatogenesis except for one animal with disrupted spermatogenesis in some tubules, while others were normal.