Korean J Occup Environ Med.  2002 Sep;14(3):236-246.

Age-dependent Effect of Metabolism and Testicular Toxicity to di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Korea. bschoi@cau.ac.kr

Abstract


OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the age-dependent response of testicular toxicity and the mechanism of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) induced testicular toxicity.
METHODS
DEHP was administered orally in doses of 0, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg/day, for 7 days, to 3, 6 and 9 week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Testicular weight and sperm head counts, plasma level of DEHP, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and testicular lipid peroxidation were measured. Histopathological changes in the testis were observed.
RESULTS
Reductions in weight gains, and relative testis weights, were observed in the 3 week-old rats in a dose-dependent manner, but not in the 6 and 9 week-old rats, compared to those of the control rats. Sperm head counts were decreased in the 6 week-old rats exposed to 2.0 g/kg/day, but not in the 9 week-old rats. Testicular atrophy and significant size reduction of the seminiferous tubule were observed in a dose-dependent manner in the 3 week-old rats. The plasma concentrations of MEHP were higher than those of DEHP, with these levels being most elevated in the younger rats. Lipid peroxidation, following exposed to DEHP, was increased in a dose-dependent manner in the 3 week-old, but with no changes in the 6 and 9 week-old rats.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest the age related difference observed in the testicular response to the oral administration of DEHP may be due to the metabolism, and that oxidative stress may be related to the mechanism of DEHP induced testicular toxicity.

Keyword

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; Age-dependent; Testicular toxicity; Mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; Metabolism; Oxidative stress

MeSH Terms

Administration, Oral
Animals
Atrophy
Diethylhexyl Phthalate
Lipid Peroxidation
Metabolism*
Oxidative Stress
Plasma
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Seminiferous Tubules
Sperm Head
Testis
Weight Gain
Weights and Measures
Diethylhexyl Phthalate
Full Text Links
  • KJOEM
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr