Мorphofunctional Characteristics of the Male Reproductive System of White Rats Treated with Bisphenol A and Triclosan

The aim of this study was to analyze the morphofunctional state of the testes of mature male rats treated with bisphenol A (BPA) and triclosan (TCS).

Material and methods. The work was performed on mature male rats (n=28). Experimental animals were divided into three groups – control (intact) and two experimental ones. For two months, rats of the experimental groups received daily bisphenol A and triclosan (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) with food in the amount of 200 mg/kg. The total count of spermatozoa in 1 ml of sperm was determined with the calculation of their atypical forms, and morphometric measurements were made (the total number and area of Leydig cells with their nuclearcytoplasmic ratio). The concentrations of bisphenol A and testicular triclosan were measured by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The obtained data was subjected to statistical processing using IBM SPSS Statistics v.21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).

Results. Differences between the comparison groups in the concentration of bisphenol A and triclosan in testicular tissues were statistically significant (p <0.001). The endocrine disruptors studied reduced the mass of the testes. A group of male rats exposed to bisphenol A showed a decrease in the total number of spermatozoa (p=0.004) with an increase in their atypical forms (p=0.014) compared with a group of intact animals. Bisphenol A and triclosan caused a decrease in the total number of Leydig cells (p=0.001; p=0.001) respectively, and a statistically significant change in the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. Moreover, bisphenol A led to a decrease in the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio of Leydig cells, whereas triclosal, on the contrary, increased its value in comparison with a group of intact animals.

Conclusion. Bisphenol A and triclosan have a negative effect on the morphofunctional state of the male testes of sexually mature rats (decrease in testicular mass, total count of spermatozoa on the background of an increase in their atypical forms, as well as a decrease in the total number of Leydig cells with a change in their nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio).

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