title: Effects of early pubertal exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on social behavior of mice.
abstract: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a main member of phthalates used as plasticizer in PVC plastics, is an environmental endocrine disrupter. The present study investigated the effect of DEHP on social behavior of mice following pubertal exposure (1, 10, 50, and 200mg/kg/d) from postnatal day 28 through postnatal day 42. The results showed that, in pubertal females, DEHP reduced the time spent in social play and social investigation and inhibited sociability, but a contrary effect was found in pubertal males, suggesting that the effect of DEHP on pubertal social behavior displays sex differences. In adults, DEHP reduced sociability in females and inhibited social play and social investigation in males, suggesting that early pubertal exposure to DEHP not only plays a significant role in puberty but also alters social behavior in adults. In addition, the present study showed that the higher dose of DEHP (50, 200mg/kg/d) reduced the relative weight of bilateral testis and anogenital distance of pubertal or adult males, suggesting an anti-androgenic activity of DEHP. These results suggest that early pubertal exposure to DEHP sex- and age- specifically affected the social behaviors of pubertal and even adult mice.
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecology, Chemistry and Life Sciences College, Xingzhi College, Zhejiang Normal University, PR China.
authors: Ran
authors: R
authors: Wang
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecology, Chemistry and Life Sciences College, Xingzhi College, Zhejiang Normal University, PR China. Electronic address: xuxh63@zjnu.cn.
authors: Xiaohong
authors: X
authors: Xu
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecology, Chemistry and Life Sciences College, Xingzhi College, Zhejiang Normal University, PR China.
authors: Huifang
authors: H
authors: Weng
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecology, Chemistry and Life Sciences College, Xingzhi College, Zhejiang Normal University, PR China.
authors: Shengyao
authors: S
authors: Yan
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecology, Chemistry and Life Sciences College, Xingzhi College, Zhejiang Normal University, PR China.
authors: Yangyang
authors: Y
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate
keywords: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; Environmental endocrine disrupter; Puberty; Social behavior