title: Mechanism of testicular atrophy induced by di-n-butyl phthalate in rats. Part 5. Testicular iron depletion and levels of ferritin, haemoglobin and transferrin in the bone marrow, liver and spleen.
abstract: This study reports changes in levels of ferritin, haemoglobin and transferrin in the bone marrow, liver and spleen as an attempt to determine the causes of testicular iron depletion. A single oral dose of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) to male rats caused a sloughing of the germ cells (at 6 h) prior to testicular atrophy. Before the sloughing it was observed that DBP induced decreases both in the iron levels in the blood, bone marrow and testis and in haemoglobin (Hb) levels in the blood, bone marrow and spleen. Decrease in transferrin (Tf) levels was observed in the liver. Significant increases in ferritin and haemosiderin (Hs) levels were observed in the spleen and in the liver and spleen, respectively. In vitro studies where mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) was incubated with liver homogenates, MBP caused both the decreases in Hb and Tf-bound iron levels and increases in Hs and Hs-iron levels. The present study proposes that the mechanism of testicular atrophy by DBP might be associated with both the iron release from Hb and/or Tf in the liver and spleen and the subsequent depletion of iron in the blood and testes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006485:Hemosiderin / Q000378:metabolism; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000187:drug effects; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D014168:Transferrin; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate; D005293:Ferritins; D006485:Hemosiderin; D007501:Iron; D001663:Bilirubin; C028577:monobutyl phthalate