Abstract #M96

Section: Animal Health
Session: Animal Health I
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Monday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Exhibit Hall B
# M96
Reproductive toxicity of bisphenol A in male New Zealand white rabbits.
H. Karabulut1, M. S. Gulay*1, 1Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey.

Environmental chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), can be harmful for male reproduction. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the possible effects of different doses of BPA on some reproductive parameters in male New Zealand White rabbits. Rabbits were housed individually and trained for semen collection for 2 weeks before the experiment. After the training period, rabbits were divided into 4 groups of 6 rabbits each and received daily gavages of 0, 10, 20, and 100 mg/kg BPA in corn oil for 9 weeks. Semen was collected once a week from each rabbit and semen samples at d 1 (initial) and 63 of the experiment were analyzed separately. Libido was also evaluated during semen collection based on the time of introducing the female to the male rabbits until the male rabbit ejaculated into the artificial vagina. At the end of the experiment, the rabbits were euthanized and wet weights of testes, epididymides and accessory sex glands as a whole was recorded. Initial values (ejaculate volume, ejaculate weight, ejaculate pH, sperm concentration, percent progressive motility, and seminal plasma protein levels) tested at d 1 were similar among the groups. Likewise, there were no differences in ejaculate volume, ejaculate weight, ejaculate pH and seminal plasma protein levels at the end of the experiment. Libido and weights of reproductive organs were not affected by the treatments. However, sperm concentrations and percent progressive motility were significantly declined in BPA treated bucks (P < 0.02). Thus, the current 9-week study suggested that as low as 10 mg/kg BPA per day can impair spermatogenesis and motility in male rabbits.

Key Words: sperm parameters, bisphenol A (BPA), reproduction