title: Exposure to mono-n-butyl phthalate disrupts the development of preimplantation embryos.
abstract: Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a widely used phthalate, is known to cause many serious diseases, especially in the reproductive system. However, little is known about the effects of its metabolite, mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), on preimplantation embryo development. In the present study, we found that treatment of embryos with 10⁻³ M MBP impaired developmental competency, whereas exposure to 10⁻⁴ M MBP delayed the progression of preimplantation embryos to the blastocyst stage. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in embryos were significantly increased following treatment with 10⁻³ M MBP. In addition, 10⁻³ M MBP increased apoptosis via the release of cytochrome c, whereas immunofluorescent analysis revealed that exposure of preimplantation embryos to MBP concentration-dependently (10⁻⁵, 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻³ M) decreased DNA methylation. Together, the results indicate a possible relationship between MBP exposure and developmental failure in preimplantation embryos.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Da-Peng
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Da-Guang
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Chan-Juan
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Hong-Fei
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001757:Blastomeres / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D004477:Ectogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009028:Morula / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000633:toxicity; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012997:Solvents / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D010968:Plasticizers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012997:Solvents; C028577:monobutyl phthalate