Dibutyl phthalate-induced neurotoxicity in the brain of immature and mature rat offspring.
OBJECTIVE
We aim to investigate the neurotoxicity induced by perinatal exposure of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) on the immature and mature offspring animals using a rodent model.


METHODS
Pregnant rats were given intragastric administration of 500mg/kg body weight DBP daily from gestational day 6 to postnatal day 21 while control animals received the same volume of edible corn oil. Serum estradiol and testosterone levels of the offspring were evaluated. Protein levels of AROM, ER-β, BDNF and p-CREB in the hippocampus were also measured.


RESULTS
Perinatal exposure of DBP significantly up-regulated the serum estradiol levels in both immature and mature offspring rats. DBP exposure also significantly down-regulated the testosterone levels in immature male and female rats and mature male rats but had no influence on the testosterone levels in mature female rats. DBP exposure up-regulated AROM, but down-regulated ER-β, BDNF and p-CREB expression in the hippocampus of immature rat offspring, while it had no influence on the levels of these proteins in the mature animals.


CONCLUSIONS
Perinatal exposure of DBP could induce neurotoxicity in immature offspring rats through regulation of AROM, ER-β, BDNF and p-CREB expression, while it has no influence on mature offspring animals.
Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Lab of Pediatric Neurology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Xiujuan
X
Li
Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Lab of Pediatric Neurology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: jiangli730412@aliyun.com.
Li
L
Jiang
Lab of Pediatric Neurology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Li
L
Cheng
Lab of Pediatric Neurology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Hengsheng
H
Chen
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate / Q000633:toxicity*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D010968:Plasticizers; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D001141:Aromatase
DBP; Hippocampus; Neurotoxicity; Perinatal exposure; Sex hormone