Effects of bisphenol-A on male reproductive success in adult Kadaknath chicken.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) adversely affects human and animal reproductive success in many ways, but this information is scant on birds. In the present study, we investigated the reproductive toxicity of BPA in adult Kadaknath chicken using two BPA dosages orally (1 or 5 mg/kg body weight) for seven weeks. In order to assess BPA toxicity, sperm functions, fertilizing ability, serum testosterone concentration and testis histopathology were measured in treated and control chickens. The semen volume was highest in birds exposed to 1mg/kg body weight BPA compared to other groups. 5 mg/kg body weight BPA reduced sperm concentration significantly more than other treatment and controls. However, overall fertility and testis histology were unaffected. These results indicate that BPA adversely affects sperm characteristics in adult kadaknath chicken without affecting fertilization potential.

Bisphenol A reduces fertilizing ability and motility by compromising mitochondrial function of sperm.

Bisphenol A (BPA) acts as an endocrine disruptor, affects animal reproductive success in vivo and affects sperm functions in vitro at environmentally relevant concentrations, leading to reduction in sperm motility and fertilizing ability in fish. The effect of in vitro BPA on avian sperm functions has not been explored. The present study examined the effect of environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA (0 mM, 0.18 mM, 0.37 mM, and 0.74 mM) on sperm functions in chicken in vitro. Sperm were exposed to concentrations of BPA for 30 min and analyzed for motility, fertilizing ability, live sperm percentage, and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm). Results showed that BPA at a concentration of 0.74 mM significantly decreased motility, fertilizing ability, live sperm count percentage, and sperm Δψm. Sperm motility was positively correlated with fertility (r = 0.73, p ≤ 0.01), live sperm percentage (r = 0.64, p ≤ 0.01), and high Δψm (r = 0.44, p ≤ 0.01). A dose-dependent and time-dependent effect of BPA was observed on sperm motility at all BPA concentrations. However, sperm's fertilizing ability was unaffected in low BPA concentration (0.18 mM and 0.37 mM). A significantly higher percentage of moribund sperm was observed at 0.37 mM and 0.74 mM BPA compared with at 0.18 mM BPA, in the negative control, and in the vehicle control. The present study confirms that environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA are capable of compromising sperm functions, leading to reduction in fertilizing ability of chicken sperm.