Abstract
Furan is a colorless toxic organic compound that is produced during thermal degradation of natural food constituents, and is present in various processed foods such as coffee and processed baby foods. The present study investigated the endocrine disrupting potential of furan in Sprague Dawley male pups. On postnatal day 0 (PND 0), pups were divided into five groups. The control group received subcutaneous injections of corn oil (50 μL), while the treated groups were injected with one of four concentrations of furan (1, 5, 10 and 20 mg kg−1 d−1 in 50 μL corn oil) from PND 1 to PND 10. Our results reveal significant physiological changes in groups receiving the two highest doses of furan (10 and 20 mg kg−1 d−1). Fertility was decreased in high dose groups, as evidenced by lower daily sperm production (DSP) and epididymis sperm counts, and dose-dependent histological alterations in the testes. High dose groups showed significant reductions in plasma concentrations of testosterone, LH and GH, while plasma cortisol and final body weight was increased compared to the control group. .The results suggest that neonatal exposure to high concentrations of furan cause structural and endocrine alterations in male neonatal rats, compromising fertility.
•Furan changed the sperm parameters and hormonal profile of rats.•Highest doses caused a reduction in the number of Spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatid cells.•Neonatal exposure to furan caused histological alterations in testis and epididymal tissues.•A negative correlation between HPA and HPG axis was observed in animals exposed to high dose of furan.