The revelation of the mechanism of the post-fertilization effect of paternal exposure on endocrine disruptors on the development and fertilizing capacity of the male offspring.

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The effects of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) exposure of male rats that were investigated in this project resulted in significant histological alterations in the testis, epididymis and seminal vesicles. The levels of oxidative stress (OS) markers, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly higher in the testicular tissue of male rats that were exposed to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) compared to the Control group. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry demonstrated significantly high expression of OS markers MDA, 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the PFOS and PFOA groups compared to the Control group.Additionally, after mating studies, the newborns that were delivered from female rats that mated with PFOS or PFOA-exposed male rats had significantly low survival rate compared to the Control group. Moreover the body weight of the PFOS and PFOA group newborns was significantly lower compared to the Control group newborns during all the recording period which lasted 4 weeks.Currently the 1st generation is observed and followed up until new mating studies are performed so we can evaluate the effects on the 2nd generation. Additionally the epigenetic inheritance in the first generation will be investigated by analyzing spermatozoa DNA methylation.Among the findings of the present study, one that stands out is the strong post-fertilization effect of the spermatozoa that were produced by rats exposed to PFCs. The DNA damage that is induced by PFCs in the rat sperm is so strong that affects the survival of the newborns.