Neonatal exposure to di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) alters male reproductive-tract development.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate male reproductive-organ development in early postnatal male rats following neonatal exposure to di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) and identify a mechanism of action. Neonatal male rats were injected subcutaneously from d 5 to 14 after birth with corn oil (control) and DBP (5, 10, or 20 mg/animal). Animals were killed at postnatal day (PND) 31 and PND 42, respectively, and testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles, ventral prostate, levator ani plus bulbocavernosus muscles (LABC), and Cowper's glands were weighed. In addition, the expressions of androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptors (ERs), and steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) were also examined in the testes. Total body weights gains were significantly reduced at PND 29-31, but gradually recovered on PND 42. However, DBP (20 mg/animal) significantly reduced the weights of testes and accessory sex organs (seminal vesicles, LABC, and Cowper's glands), but not of the epididymis. These adverse effects persisted through puberty at PND 42. Serum testosterone levels did not show any significant changes in the control and DBP treatment groups. Histomorphological examination showed mild diffuse Leydig-cell hyperplasia in the interstitium of severely affected tubules on PND 31. Only a few multinuclear germ cells were observed. DBP (20 mg/animal) significantly decreased the expression of AR, whereas ER expression and SF-1 expression were increased in a dose-dependent manner on PND 31 in the rat testes. On PND 42, DBP (20 mg/animal) significantly inhibited ER expression in the testes, but not AR, ER, and SF-1. These results demonstrate that neonatal exposure to DBP produces permanent changes in the endocrine system and leads to abnormal male reproductive-tract development until puberty. Thus our data suggest that DBP is likely to exert its antiandrogenic actions through disruption of AR or ER expression during the early neonatal stage.
Kim
Hyung Sik
HS
Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea.
Kim
Tae Sung
TS
Shin
Jae-Ho
JH
Moon
Hyun Ju
HJ
Kang
Il Hyun
IH
Kim
In Young
IY
Oh
Ji Young
JY
Han
Soon Young
SY
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate / Q000633:toxicity*; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*
D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; C515060:steroidogenic factor 1, rat; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate