Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure induces sperm quality and functional defects in mice

Liu XueXia; Liu YaNan; Teng Zi; Zhang YuSheng; Wang ZeLin; Zhu Peng; Xie MeiNa; Liu FuJun

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137216

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure induces sperm quality and functional defects in mice

Chemosphere. 2023 Jan;312(Pt 1):137216. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137216. Epub 2022 Nov 10.

Authors

Liu XueXia¹, Liu YaNan², Teng Zi³, Zhang YuSheng², Wang ZeLin³, Zhu Peng³, Xie MeiNa², Liu FuJun⁴

Affiliations

¹ Shandong Stem Cell Engineering Technology Research Center, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China; School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
² School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
³ Shandong Stem Cell Engineering Technology Research Center, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China.
⁴ Shandong Stem Cell Engineering Technology Research Center, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China; School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China. Electronic address: lfjyt@126.com.

PMID: 36372335
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137216

Abstract

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) harms mammalian testis development, yet the specific mechanism of its effect on sperm quality and function is unclear. In this study, male mice were administrated DEHP (200 mg/kg/day) via intragastric (i.g.) injection for 35 days. The sperm quality and function of DEHP-exposed mice were evaluated. DEHP exposure reduced the relative testis weight and serum testosterone levels. In addition, sperm count and motility parameters decreased significantly, which led to reduced sperm fertility characterized by reduced acrosome reaction rate, sperm-egg binding capacity and blastocyte formation. DEHP exposure decreased anti-oxidant indicators and the expressions of Cat, Sod1, Prdx6 and Sirt1 in the testis. DEHP-exposure also resulted in decreased proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in mice testis, as well as the dose-dependent inhibition of the proliferation of GC-1 and GC-2 cells. These phenotypes may be related to increased cell apoptosis characterized by BAX/BCL2 and P53 up-regulation. DEHP exposure resulted in the down-regulation of SIRT1 and p-AKT in mice testis and decreased levels of GC-1and GC-2 cells. DEHP co-incubation with sperm in vitro resulted in decreased tyrosine phosphorylation and progressive motility, as well as p-AKT expression in capacitated sperm. Differential sperm proteomics identified 495 differentially expressed proteins, including 257 proteins down-regulated in the DEHP-exposure group. Bioinformatics analysis showed that proteins involved in sperm-egg interaction and fertilization processes were significantly down-regulated. Pathway analysis demonstrated that the adhesion pathway was enriched in down-regulated proteins, while the pathway associated with ribosomes was enriched in up-regulated proteins. Conclusively, DEHP exposure impaired male fertility by affecting sperm quality and function, and a pathway mediating the DEHP-induced decline in sperm quality and function was identified. The study provides additional information for understanding the molecular mechanisms of DEHP exposure and its effects on male reproduction.

Keywords: DEHP; Male fertility; Sperm quality; Spermatogenesis; Testis.

MeSH terms

Animals
Diethylhexyl Phthalate* / toxicity
Male
Mice
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
Semen* / drug effects
Sirtuin 1 / metabolism
Spermatozoa
Testis

Substances

Diethylhexyl Phthalate
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
Sirtuin 1