Effects of dibutyltin dilaurat exposure during gestationperiod on reproductive system of male offspring rats.

Objective To explore the effects of dibutyltin dilaurate(DBTD) exposure during gestationperiod on reproductive system in the mature male offspring of Wistar rats and its mechanism.Methods The specific pathogen free(SPF) pregnant rats were randomly divided into four groups,four in each,including the control(corn oil),the low dosage(10 mg/kg),the moderate dosage(20 mg/kg) and the high dosage(30 mg/kg).The animals were treated with DBTD by gavage from 12th to 20th days of gestation and the volume of DBTD solution administered was adjusted to 5 ml/kg of body weight.At the 70th postnatal day,10 male mature rats were selected randomly from each group for the measurement of the weights of testis and epididymis,the viscera coefficient of testis and epididymis,sperm count in epididymis,the hormones including luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle stimulating hormone(FSH),testosterone(T) in serum and testosterone in testis,and then observed pathologic changes in testis.Results There were no significant differences in body weight,epididymis weight,the viscera coefficient of epididymis,LH and FSH in serum between the exposure groups and the control(P0.05).The tesis weight and viscera coefficient of the testis in the high dosage and the sperm counts in the moderate dosage and the high dosage increased significantly compared with the control(P0.05 or P0.01).The tesis weight,viscera coefficient of testis and the sperm counts increased with the increasing dosage.T in serum in high dosage and T in testis in each treated group increased significantly compared with the control(P0.05 or P0.01).Conclusion In the experimental condition of the present study,DBTD exposure during gestationperiod shows a promotive effect on the development of testis and the spermatogenesis in offspring rats by interfering synthesis and metabolism of T.