Author(s)

Lingyan Yuan, Meiqing Fan, Ping Zhan

Department of Environment Hygiene, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) used as flame retardants are widely used in a variety of consumer products, like textiles, foam and building materials. They are persistent in the environment, and increasing levels of PBDEs have been found both biota and human tissue samples. In the present study we examined the dose-dependent effects of pentabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE-99) on the serum hormone and histology of reproductive system in male rats. 40 health 4-week-old SD rats were divided into 4 groups randomly. The treated rats were orally administered with BDE-99 at the dose of 60,120 or 180 mg/kg, while controls received equal volume of corn oil. We examined the changes of serum hormone levels, histopathology, and PCNA after 30 days exposure to BDE-99. With increasing doses of BDE-99, testis organ coefficient increased, serum hormone levels lower, PCNA positive expression reduced, and the degeneration of seminiferous epithelium were revealed in treated group. These indicators with significant dose-effect relationship showed that BDE-99 can reduce the serum sex hormone levels and cause severe degeneration of seminiferous epithelium.

Pentabrominated Diphenyl Ethers; Male Reproductive System; the Relationship of Dose-Effect

Yuan, L. , Fan, M. and Zhan, P. (2012) Dose-dependent effects of pentabrominated diphenyl ethers on sexual hormone and histology of male reproductive system in rats. Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering, 5, 302-306. doi: 10.4236/jbise.2012.56039.