Effects of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) given neonatally on spermatogenesis of mice

• Published in: Molecular biology reports 2013-11, Vol.40 (11), p.6509-6517
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xi-Feng, Zhang, Teng, Wang, Liu, Zhang, Hong-Ying, Chen, Yong-De, Qin, Xun-Si, Feng, Yan-Min, Feng, Yan-Ni, Shen, Wei, Li, Lan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell division; Chemical contaminants; Chromosome Aberrations; Diethylhexyl Phthalate - administration & dosage; Diethylhexyl Phthalate - pharmacology; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Histology; Life Sciences; Male; Meiosis - drug effects; Mice; Molecular biology; Morphology; Rodents; Semen Analysis; Sperm; Spermatogenesis - drug effects; Spermatogenesis - genetics; Testis - drug effects; Testis - metabolism; Testis - pathology; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0301-4851; 1573-4978
• DOI: 10.1007/s11033-013-2769-y

We previously demonstrated that the effects of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) alter reproduction function on male mice. Immature male mice were treated daily with DEHP from postnatal day 7–21, 7–35, 7–49, in a dose-dependent manner. As results, both the quality and quantity of spermatozoa were decreased in 60-day-old mice. The results by RT-PCR analysis indicated that DDx3Y , Usp9Y , RBM , E1F1AY , EGF , FSHR and EGFR genes were down-regulated, and LHR , Cyp17a1 and Cyp19a1 were down-regulated in response to DEHP. These genes were selected based on their markedly increased or decreased expression levels. However, DEHP had no effect on the meiotic process and recombination levels in male mouse germ cells. Treatment with DEHP induced histopathological changes in the testes. Taken together, these results provide a new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the detrimental impacts of DEHP in humans and wildlife.