Combined Toxic Effects of DBP and DEHP on Sperm in Male Mice

Objective to study the combined toxic effects of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) on spermatogenesis of male mice. Methods Forty Kunming male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (10 mice in each group): DEHP + DBP (1.6 g/kg DEHP + 0.9 g/kg DBP), DEHP (1/20 LD50 1.6 g/kg), DBP (1/20 LD50, 0.9 g/kg) and a control group which was given corn oil. The experiment was conducted through gavage every other day for 35 days. The mice were sacrificed after treatment and the testis and the epididymis were collected for experiment. The number of sperm, the survival rate of sperm and the sperm malformation rate were detected by histologic examination. Results the sperm count and sperm survival rate in DBP&DEHP group were significantly lower, while the sperm malformation rate in DBP&DEHP group was higher than that of the other groups. Compared with DBP group, the sperm counts and sperm survival rate of DEHP group decreased, but there was no significant difference in sperm malformation rate. No significant difference between DBP and control group was detected. Conclusion DEHP and DBP mixture can induce strong hazardous effect on male reproductive ability.