Effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis in adult female rats

• Published in: Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) Vol. 46; pp. 141 - 147
• Main Authors: Liu, Te, Li, Na, Zhu, Jian, Yu, Guangyan, Guo, Kun, Zhou, Liting, Zheng, Dongchun, Qu, Xiaofeng, Huang, Jian, Chen, Xin, Wang, Shuyue, Ye, Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Body Weight - drug effects; Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; Diethylhexyl Phthalate - toxicity; Endocrine disruptors; Female; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - metabolism; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; HPOA; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - drug effects; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - metabolism; Ovary - drug effects; Ovary - metabolism; Plasticizers - toxicity; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reproductive toxicity; Sex hormone; Uterus - drug effects; Endocrine disruptors; HPOA; Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; Reproductive toxicity; Sex hormone
• ISSN: 0890-6238; 1873-1708
• DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2014.03.006

•Lower body weight.•Lower organ coefficient of ovary.•Higher GnRH level in the hypothalamus.•Higher mRNA and protein levels of GnRHR in the pituitary.•Lower serum sex hormone levels. Thus, DEHP affects the function of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis in adult female rat. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an environmental endocrine disruptor, is widely present in the environment and some products with phthalate plasticizer. It has become a serious problem in recent years. The effect of DEHP on female reproductive system is still not well-studied. This study was to investigate the effects of DEHP on hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis in adult female rats. Compared with control rats, the DEHP-treated rats showed: (1) lower body weight; (2) lower organ coefficient of ovary; (3) higher GnRH level in the hypothalamus; (4) higher mRNA and protein levels of GnRHR in the pituitary; and (5) lower serum sex hormone levels. Our data reveal that DEHP exposure may lead to the disruption of estrogen biosynthesis pathways in female rats and imbalance of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis. DEHP may impose negative influence on the development and function of the reproductive system in female rats.