Early post-natal exposure to low dose oral di(2ethylhexyl) phthalate affects the peripheral LH-concentration in plasma, but does not affect mating behavior in the post-pubertal boar.
In a split-litter design experiment, boars were exposed orally three times weekly to 300 mg/kg of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) between 3 and 7 weeks of age. Post-puberty, i.e. at 6 months of age the effects on endocrinology and mating behavior were examined. The response to stimulation with a synthetic GnRH-analogue at 9 months of age resulted initially in lower concentration of LH in the exposed animals, compared to the control animals. We did not find any effects of DEHP on the mating behavior. Also, the effects of DEHP during the treatment period on the plasma concentrations of testosterone, oestradiol and LH were examined. During the exposure period there was a transient decrease in plasma concentrations of LH in the control group, which did not occur in the boars exposed to DEHP. The data suggest that DEHP in low repeated oral doses causes lasting effects on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis.
Ljungvall
Karl
K
Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Box 7054, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden. karl.ljungvall@kv.slu.se
Spjuth
Linda
L
Hultén
Fredrik
F
Einarsson
Stig
S
Rodriguez-Martinez
Heriberto
H
Andersson
Kjell
K
Magnusson
Ulf
U
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D013552:Swine
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate