title: Endocrine disruptors and human reproductive failure: the in vitro effect of phthalates on human luteal cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of phthalates on human luteal cell function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three normally menstruating patients in the midluteal phase.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human luteal cells isolated from corpora lutea for primary cultures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Progesterone (P4) and prostaglandin release assayed by enzyme immunoassay, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and VEGF mRNA expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We investigated the effect of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) on basal and hCG-induced progesterone (P4) release, as well as DEHP effect on the balance between prostaglandin (PG) E2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-luteotrophic factors, and the luteolitic PGF2α in isolated human steroidogenc cells. Phthalates influence on VEGF expression has been also evaluated. DEHP, DBP, and BBP were able to reduce both basal and hCG-stimulated P4 as well as PGE2 release. PGF2α release was reduced after DEHP incubation. VEGF protein release was decreased by the incubation with the tested phthalates. VEGF mRNA expression was not affected by DEHP, DBP, and BBP. As expected, both hCG and cobalt chloride were able to induce P4 release and VEGF release and mRNA expression in human luteal cells respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show the ability of phthalates to affect luteal steroidogenesis as well as the balance between luteotrophic and luteolytic factors suggesting an interference of phthalates in human luteal function. These data may contribute to clarify the classically known impaired reproductive health observed after phthalates exposure.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: romani.federica@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tropea
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarinci
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Farmacologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dello Russo
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Farmacologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lisi
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Farmacologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catino
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzone
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Apa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate / Q000633:toxicity; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000633:toxicity; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000378:metabolism; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008184:Luteal Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate; D011374:Progesterone; D015237:Dinoprost; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; C027561:butylbenzyl phthalate
keywords: Corpus luteum; endocrine disruptors; luteal function