The Effect of Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) on Mouse Daily Sperm Production and Epididymal Sperm Parameters

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on testicular spermatid number per gram testis (TSN), daily sperm production (DSP), count, motility, viability, morphology, and chromatine quality of epididymal sperm. The protocol for DEHP administration was that adult male NMRI mice (the age group of 4 weeks) received 2g DEHP/100μl corn oil/kg, and vehicle group received 100μl corn oil/kg by gavage for 14 days. The control group did not receive DEHP. All the samples were assessed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Sperm morphology was assessed using papanicula staining. Sperm chromatine quality was assessed using aniline-blue staining. Administration of DEHP induced significantly reduction of TSN, DSP and epididymal sperm count (p<0.05). The percentage of motility, viability, normal morphology, and chromosomal quality were significantly low in comparison with control group (p<0.05). These results demonstrated that DEHP administration has toxic effects on TSN, DSP, epididymal sperm parameter and finally on male reproductive system