The present study was under taken to examine the effect of 4-tert- Octylphenol (40mg/kg and 80 mg/kg) on female rat from the first day post natal until weaning. At the lower dose (40 mg/kg), the histological study of liver of embryos showed expanded of blood vessels and rupture of epithelial layer of portal veins while the higher dose (80 mg/kg ) led disordered liver architecture represented by disassociation of hepatocytes which filled by fat vacuoles with extracellular fat infiltration. Also, the lower dose resulted in separation in the lining epithelium of proximal tubules of kidney with decayed parietal and visceral epithelium of glomerulus, while the second dose induced serious effect in proximal and distal convoluted tubules in beside the collecting tubules. This dose also affected glomerules found in the cortex that appeared smaller in size than the medulla. On the other hand, at maturity, the exposure to low dose of octylphenol led to proliferation of the lining and secretory epithelium of the uterus and a reduction in the number of the uterine glands. Whereas, exposure to high dose resulted in complete absence of the corpus luteum and different stages of ovulation.
Mating between mature females treated with high dose of octylphenol during the lactation and normal males, led to pregnancy failure, while low dose reduced the number and weight of embryos dramatically.
These results indicated that exposure to octylphenol from post natal to weaning caused histological alterations in liver, kidney, uterus and ovary in female rat and consequently affected on their fertility.