Nonylphenol exposure disrupts the fertility efficiency in adult male rats

The present research was aimed to investigate the effects of low doses of nonylphenol on male reproductive performance in adult rats. Thirty two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (weighing 160 ± 10 g in the beginning of the experiment). First group served as control and were injected with only DMSO, remaining second, third and fourth groups were administered with nonylphenol of 1, 10, 100 µg/kg Bw through intr aperitonial injections for 55 days. To observe the fertility, control and experimental males were cohabited with sexually mature normal females. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease was observed in the body weight gain of experimental males. Significant (p < 0.05) changes were not observed in the mating index. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in fertility rate, measured by counting live fetuses in the uterus of normal females mated with males exposed to nonylphenol. Four female rats were sacrificed on 8 th day of pregnancy, ovaries were examined for the numbers of corpora lutea. Remaining four female rats were sacrificed on 18 th day of pregnancy and uteri were dissected and examined for determination of numbers of implantations, dead and live fetuses, and resorptions. Females mated with 100 µg/kg Bw nonylphenol exposed males showed resor ptions and a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in number of live fetuses per rat. The present results revealed significant decrease in fertilization capacity of adult male rats exposed to nonylphenol.