Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign conducted a study on pregnant mice to investigate the effects of prenatal exposure to Di (2-ethyhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and a high-fat diet on male reproductive development. Previous research has shown that DEHP can harm the reproductive system in male mice, and the combination of DEHP and a high-fat diet was found to have a more damaging effect on pups than each factor alone. Male reproductive disorders, including decreased sperm count and quality, are a growing concern, and chemicals like DEHP, commonly found in food storage containers and pharmaceuticals, have been identified as contributing factors due to their ability to mimic hormones and have long-term health effects.
Professor CheMyong Jay Ko explained that the current generation of men produce half as much sperm as the previous one, but not enough attention is paid to understanding the causes of this decline. The researchers used the Barker hypothesis, which suggests that the nine months in utero are crucial in shaping future health trajectories, as a guiding principle for their study. They aimed to investigate whether the mother’s diet during pregnancy could impact the health of the next generation, especially in the presence of chemicals like DEHP that can alter bodily functions. Previous studies have shown that prenatal exposure to DEHP decreases testosterone levels and causes fertility defects in male mice, while maternal high-fat diet can also decrease sperm counts in male offspring.
In the study, pregnant mice were divided into four groups: a control group, a group exposed to DEHP, a group fed a high-fat diet, and a group exposed to both DEHP and a high-fat diet. The researchers followed the development of the pups from each litter, which included an average of 6 male and 6 female pups. They found that a high-fat diet had a more damaging effect on the male reproductive systems compared to DEHP alone, and the pups born to mothers treated with both factors had the worst outcomes. The researchers measured body weight and reproductive organ weights of the pups at different stages of growth and puberty, finding that while the body weight of pups from mothers on a high-fat diet or the combination of a high-fat diet and DEHP was higher, the reproductive organ weights were lower. These mice also produced less sperm and had lower testosterone levels, with abnormal cells in the reproductive organs contributing to gonadal dysfunction.
While the study used mice as a model, the results serve as a warning to the current generation about the importance of being careful about environmental exposures and diet during pregnancy. Further research is needed to confirm these results in humans, but the findings highlight the potential harms of prenatal exposure to chemicals like DEHP and a high-fat diet on male reproductive development. The impact on male reproductive health, including decreased sperm count and testosterone levels, underscores the need for greater awareness and precaution in addressing the factors contributing to these issues. Ultimately, understanding the effects of prenatal exposures and maternal diet on future generations’ health is crucial in developing strategies to promote reproductive health and address the growing concerns about male reproductive disorders.