PARENT SESSION
Reproductive Immunology

CHRONIC EFFECT OF XENOESTROGEN, 4-TERT-OCTYLPHENOL, ON THE GERM CELL DEATH IN RAT TESTIS.

Kim, Suel-Kee¹, Lee, Chang Joo¹, Yoon, Yong-Dal¹, ¹

ABSTRACT- The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of chronic exposure of the primary alkylphenol breakdown product, 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), on the reproductive system in prepubertal male rat. The expressions of bcl-2 gene family members such as bcl-2, bcl-x, and bax were also evaluated. Prepubertal male rats were injected with estradiol valerate (EV; 0.8 mg) or OP (20, 40, or 80 mg) s.c. in olive oil three times a week for 1 month. All the three dosages of OP and the 0.8 mg of EV significantly decreased serum testosterone concentration and adversely influenced the sizes, weights, and histological structures of the testis, epididymis, and seminal vesicle in treated rats. The weights of hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and spleen were increased. Also, greatly reduced sperm production and decreased body weight gain were observed. Moreover, data from the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction of the bcl-2 family members and from immunohistochemistry by terminaldeoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling showed that apoptosis of testicular germ cell was increased by OP treatment. Also, the similarity of these cell and tissue changes between rats treated with OP and those treated with EV suggests that OP may exert its action in an estrogenic manner. In conclusion, these results clearly demonstrate that OP severely impairs the function of the male testicular germ cells.

KEY WORDS: environment estrogen, octylphenol, apotosis, testis, rat