Butylbenzyl phthalate induces spermatogenic cell apoptosis in prepubertal rats

• Testicular alterations caused by BBP were examined by light microscopy.
• Detachment and sloughing of spermatogenic cells into the lumen were observed.
• Spermatogenic cell apoptosis was recognized by TUNEL assay.
• Semithin section confirmed the apoptotic cells by their characteristics hallmarks.
• Immunohistochemistry revealed disruption of Sertoli cell vimentin and actin filaments.

Butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), a suspected endocrine disruptor, adversely affects male reproductive function. In this study, morphological alterations of prepubertal rat testes caused by single administration of BBP, were examined by light microscopy. Three-week-old male rats were given a single dose of 500 mg/kg BBP by oral gavage and sacrificed at 3, 12, and 24 h after administration. Histopathological examination revealed progressive detachment and sloughing of spermatogenic cells into the lumen, and a significant increase in the number of TUNEL-positive (apoptotic) spermatogenic cells in the treated groups, compared to the control. Semithin sections confirmed the apoptotic cells by their prominent basophilia, condensed chromatin, and shrunken cytoplasm, hallmarks of apoptotic cell death. Immunohistochemistry identified disruption of Sertoli cell vimentin and actin filaments in the treated groups. To elucidate the recovery effects of BBP, rats were treated in the same way and were sacrificed at D1–12 h after administration. The apoptotic index returned to normal at D9. While, the testes revealed lower weight gain until D12. These results show for the first time that BBP induces collapse of vimentin filaments in Sertoli cells which may lead to disruption of Sertoli-spermatogenic cell physical interaction and induces spermatogenic cell apoptosis.

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