Effects of in utero and lactational exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate on somatic and physical development in rat offspring.
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) has been reported to act as an antiandrogen and to affect the reproductive organs and accessory genital glands. Thus, to assess the reproductive toxicity of DEHP it is important to examine both its adverse effects on the development of offspring following maternal exposure and its effects on sexual function and fertility. In the present study, we examined whether in utero and lactational exposure to DEHP affects postnatal somatic growth of offspring in the rat. Pregnant females were orally administered various doses of DEHP (0, 25, 100 or 400 mg/kg body weight/day) from gestational day (GD) 6 through postnatal day (PND) 20. There were no significant changes in body weight, body length, tail length, or the weight of individual organs between the control and DEHP-treated groups. Somatic hormonal parameters were the same for all DEHP doses. These findings suggest that in utero and lactational exposure to various concentrations of DEHP has very little effect on postnatal development or endocrine and physical status of male and female rat offspring under the experimental conditions of the present study.
Kobayashi
Kenichi
K
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Nagao, Kawasaki, Japan.
Miyagawa
Muneyuki
M
Wang
Rui-Sheng
RS
Suda
Megumi
M
Sekiguchi
Soichiro
S
Honma
Takeshi
T
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000187:drug effects; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects
D006728:Hormones; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate