BIS(2-ETHYLHEXYL) PHTALATE AFFECTS SPERMATOZOA MOTILITY DURING SHORT-TERM IN VITRO CULTIVATION

Abstract

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is ubiquitous in the environment as a results of its widespread manufacture and use, as well as their high concentration in plastics and ability to migrate from them into the air, water and ground, and then enters foodstuffs. The present study evaluated the effects of BEHP at the doses 1, 10, 100 and 200 μg/mL on the motility of bovine spermatozoa during short-term in vitro cultivation. The CASA system with SpermVisionTM program was used to determine the spermatozoa motility. The initial evaluation showed the decrease of motility with significant differences (P<0.05) and (P<0.001) at the doses 1; 100 and 200 μg/mL of BEHP in comparison to the control. At this time, a slightly increase of motility was noted at the dose 10 μg/mL, but this increase was not significant (P>0.05). Also, the doses > 100 μg/mL of BEHP decreased motility significantly (P<0.001) after 2 h of in vitro cultivation. At the dose 1 μg/mL was observed the increase of motility and the decrease of motility at the dose 10 μg/mL. After 4 h of cultivation the decrease of spermatozoa motility (P<0.001) was noted in all experimental groups containing BEHP. Significant differences (P<0.001) were found out only at the highest doses of BEHP. The dose 200 μg/mL markedly significantly decreased (P<0.001) motility in comparison to the control after 6 h of cultivation. In conclusion, the data obtained from our experiments suggest the damaging effects especially of the highest doses of BEHP on spermatozoa motility during short-term in vitro cultivation.