Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on July 16, 2009
Human Reproduction 2009 24(10):2429-2438; doi:10.1093/humrep/dep249
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Sperm chromatin integrity in DDT-exposed young men living in a malaria area in the Limpopo Province, South Africa
1 Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Health Systems & Public Health, University of Pretoria, PO Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa 2 Andrology, Department of Urology, University of Pretoria, PO Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa 3 Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Avenida Universidad 655, Col. Sta. Maria Ahuacatitlan, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62508, Mexico 4 Section of Toxicology and Biomedical Sciences, BAS-BIOTEC-MED, ENEA Casaccia Research Center, 00123 Rome, Italy
5 Correspondence address. Tel: +27-12-354-2072; Fax: +27-12-354-2071; E-mail: tiaan.dejager{at}up.ac.za
BACKGROUND: There is mounting evidence that deteriorated semen quality may be associated with increased serum concentration of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(chlorodiphenyl)ethane (DDT) and its metabolites. The problem is exacerbated in situations where DDT is the only resource available to control malaria mosquitoes and DDT metabolite plasma concentration can reach 1000-fold the level found in other populations. There are limited and contradictory epidemiological data on whether DDT/dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethylene (DDE) can also damage sperm DNA. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the possible adverse effects on human sperm genetic integrity in a sufficiently large study population with adequate exposure contrasts, especially in the high exposure range.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study, recruiting 209 young males from three communities in an endemic malaria area where DDT is sprayed annually. Blood plasma p,p'-DDT and its metabolite p,p'-DDE levels were measured and expressed as lipid adjusted p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE values. The sperm chromatin structure assay and Aniline Blue test were used to assess sperm DNA/chromatin integrity.
RESULTS: The lipid adjusted p,p'-DDT mean (±SD) and median concentrations were 109.2 (±106.6) and 83.9 µg/g, respectively; and the lipid adjusted p,p'-DDE mean (±SD) and median concentrations were 246.2 (±218.5) and 177.8 µg/g, respectively. The results point to a weak association between DDT/DDE plasma concentration and the incidence of sperm with chromatin defects.
CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that non-occupational environmental DDT exposure may have a negative impact on sperm chromatin integrity in young South African males.
Key words: DNA damage/SCSA/Aniline Blue/DDT/spermatozoa
Submitted on February 11, 2009; resubmitted on June 17, 2009; accepted on June 19, 2009.