Studies have consistently demonstrated that exposure to Di (2-ethyhexyl) phthalate during pregnancy can negatively impact the reproductive system and fertility in male mice. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign revealed that the combination of DEHP and a high-fat diet in pregnant mice can lead to more severe damage in the offspring compared to when each factor is present alone.The study found that a high-fat diet in pregnant mice can cause more harm to the pups than either factor alone.
There is a growing concern about male reproductive disorders as a result of the global decrease in sperm count and quality. Chemicals such as DEHP, commonly found in food storage containers, pharmaceuticals, and building materials, have been identified as one of the contributing factors. The toxicity of DEHP is attributed to its ability to imitate the hormones in our bodies, leading to long-term health effects.
“The scientific community recognizes that the current generation of men produce half as much sperm as the previous one.,” stated CheMyong Jay Ko (EIRH), a professor of veterinary medicine. “Despite being shocking, there is not much attention given to understanding the causes.”
The researchers utilized the Barker hypothesis as a guiding principle for their study. Developed by the British physician and epidemiologist David Barker, the hypothesis suggested that the nine months in utero are one of the most critical periods in a person’s life and can influence their future health paths.
“The Barker hypothesis primarily focuses on nutrition and we aimed to examine whether the mother’s diet could impact the health of the next generation,” Ko explained. “In addition, unlike”Similar to the previous generation, we are regularly exposed to chemicals such as DEHP, which can impact how our bodies work. We wanted to investigate whether being exposed to both of these factors can result in developing babies having impaired reproductive systems.
Prior studies by the Ko lab and other research groups have indicated that prenatal exposure to DEHP can reduce testosterone levels and cause fertility abnormalities in male mice. Moreover, studies have shown that a maternal high-fat diet can also reduce sperm counts in male offspring. However, the combined effects of both had not been examined.
The researchers utilized four groups of prPregnant mice were used in the study, with one serving as a control and the other three being exposed to DEHP, a high-fat diet, or a combination of the two. The researchers monitored each litter, which typically had 6 male and 6 female pups.
The results were surprising, as the study found that a high-fat diet had a greater detrimental impact on the male reproductive systems compared to DEHP alone. The worst outcomes were observed in pups born from mothers who had been treated with both the high-fat diet and DEHP.
Throughout the study, the researchers measured the body weight and different reproductive organs of the pups at various stages of growth and puberty. They discovered that the body weight of pups born from mothers exposed to a high-fat diet had more damaging effects on the male reproductive systems compared to DEHP alone.Moms who were fed a high-fat diet, either on its own or with DEHP, had pups with higher body weight but lower reproductive organ weight. These pups also produced less sperm and had lower testosterone levels. Through tissue staining, researchers discovered abnormal cells in the reproductive organs, contributing to gonadal dysfunction. The lead researcher emphasized the need for caution in regards to environment and diet during pregnancy, based on the study’s findings in mice.
