Influence of octylphenol on gene expression of gonadotropins and their receptors, testicular structure and mating behavior of male Rana chensinensis.

Abstract In the present study, responses of the Chinese brown frog (Rana chensinensis) to exposure to different doses and duration of Octyphenol (OP) which degraded from alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) were characterized during the adult periods. The effects of OP on growth, development and reproduction and the expression of genes in gonad were investigated. The expression levels of fshβ, lhβ, fshr and lhr had significant differences as the exposure time increased. The pathological and morphological changes were also observed in the OP treatments. Furthermore, the number of TUNEL positive cells and the TUNEL index was elevated after exposed to OP. Besides that, OP treatment could influence its mating behavior and reduce the fertilization rates. Taken together, these results indicated that OP disrupt sex steroid signaling, normal development of spermatogenesis, courtship behavior of male frogs and decline fertilization rate in R. chensinensis.