Table 1. Effects of phthalate exposure on sperm count, motility and viability in male Wistar rats following different lengths of exposure.
GROUP LH (mUI/ml) FSH (mUI/ml) Testosterone (ng/ml)
A (Control) 1.91±0.03 3.05±0.15 6.92±0.36
B (1 Week) 1.26±0.02* 2.55±0.11* 4.64±0.76*
C (3 Weeks) 1.18±0.01*d 2.48±0.46* 2.22±0.25*a
D (5 Weeks) 1.25±0.05*d 2.58±0.27* 2.86±0.18*
E (7 Weeks) 1.68±0.16 2.77±0.12* 3.90±0.60*
F (9 Weeks) 1.28±0.06* 2.63±0.07* 3.47±0.03*

Values are expressed as Mean ± SEM (n=7) (One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test).
*a,dp<0.05 considered statistically significant when compared with controls and rats treated for one and seven weeks, respectively.