Exposure to tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate induces abnormal sperm morphology and testicular histopathology in male rats

Hsiu-Yung Pan; Fu-Jen Cheng; Kuo-Chen Huang; Chia-Te Kung; Wan-Ting Huang; Huey-Ling You; Shau-Hsuan Li; Chin-Chou Wang; Wen-Chin Lee; Ping-Chi Hsu

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113718

Exposure to tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate induces abnormal sperm morphology and testicular histopathology in male rats

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 Aug:241:113718. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113718. Epub 2022 Jun 2.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan; Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan.
³ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
⁴ Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
⁶ Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. Electronic address: pchsu@nkust.edu.tw.

PMID: 35660377
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113718

Abstract

Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) is one of the most abundant organophosphate flame retardants in the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TBEP exposure during adolescence on male reproductive function in adult rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 20 and 200 mg/kg body weight of TBEP or corn oil from postnatal day (PND) 42 to PND 105. A significant increase in the proportion of sperm with abnormal morphology (flattened head and bent tail) and superoxide anion (O₂^-.) production in the sperm of the 200 mg/kg treated group was observed (p < 0.05). Excessive production of sperm hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was found in both the 20 and 200 mg/kg treatment groups (p < 0.05). Disruption of testicular structure was observed in the 20 and 200 mg/kg treated groups and seminiferous tubule degeneration was observed in the 200 mg/kg treated group. Our study demonstrated the adverse effects of TBEP on male reproductive function in rats.

Keywords: Male reproductive function; Sperm morphology; TBEP; Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate.

MeSH terms

Animals
Flame Retardants* / toxicity
Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
Male
Organophosphates / pharmacology
Organophosphorus Compounds
Phosphates* / pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Semen
Spermatozoa

Substances

Flame Retardants
Organophosphates
Organophosphorus Compounds
Phosphates
Hydrogen Peroxide
tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate