title: In utero exposure to the endocrine disruptor di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induces long-term changes in gene expression in the adult male adrenal gland.
abstract: The plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is used to add flexibility to polyvinylchloride polymers and as a component of numerous consumer and medical products. DEHP and its metabolites have been detected in amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood, suggesting fetal exposure. In the present study, we used an in utero exposure model in which pregnant rat dams were exposed to 1- to 300-mg DEHP/kg·d from gestational day 14 until birth. We previously reported that this window of exposure to environmentally relevant doses of DEHP resulted in reduced levels of serum testosterone and aldosterone in adult male offspring and that the effects on aldosterone were sustained in elderly rats and resulted in decreased blood pressure. Here, we characterized the long-term effects of in utero DEHP exposure by performing global gene expression analysis of prepubertal (postnatal d 21) and adult (postnatal d 60) adrenal glands. We found that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and lipid metabolism pathways were affected by DEHP exposure. Expression of 2 other DEHP targets, hormone-sensitive lipase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (Pck1), correlated with reduced aldosterone levels and may account for the inhibitory effect of DEHP on adrenal steroid formation. The angiotensin II and potassium pathways were up-regulated in response to DEHP. In addition, the potassium intermediate/small conductance calcium-activated channel Kcnn2 and 2-pore-domain potassium channel Knck5 were identified as DEHP targets. Based on this gene expression analysis, we measured fatty acid-binding protein 4 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 in sera from control and DEHP-exposed rats and identified both proteins as putative serum biomarkers of in utero DEHP exposure. These results shed light on molecular targets that mediate DEHP long-term effects and, in doing so, provide means by which to assess past DEHP exposure.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (M.C.); Departments of Medicine (D.B.M.-A., E.C., C.L., J.F., M.C., V.P.), Pharmacology and Therapeutics (D.B.M.-A., E.C., C.L., J.F., M.C., V.P.), and Biochemistry (V.P.), McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3G 1A4; and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (B.R.Z.), Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Martinez-Arguelles
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campioli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lienhart
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Culty
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Zirkin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D002787:Sterol Esterase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors; D010968:Plasticizers; D013739:Testosterone; D000450:Aldosterone; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; D002787:Sterol Esterase; C582554:Pck1 protein, rat; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP)