No Estrogenic Activity of Phthalate Esters in Ovariectomized Rat Uterotrophic Assay

랫드 자궁비대반응시험(Uterotrophic assay)을 이용한 phthalate esters의 에스트로겐성 작용 연구

The rodent uterotrophic assay is currently recommended as one of the primary in vivo assays far endocrine disrupting chemicals by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Endocrine Disruptor Screening and Testing Advisory Committee (US EPA EDSTAC). Generally, this assay relies on the rapid increase in uterus and vagina weights when exposed to estrogenic compounds. Phthalate esters have been used extensively as a plasticizer in the manufacture of plastic products such as PVC films and medical devices. Recently, phthalate esters have been shown to induce endocrine system mediated responses. However, a flew studies have been conducted for the screening of their estrogenic activity. In this study the estrogenic activity of seven phthalate esters, butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-butylphthalate (DBP), diethylphthalate (DEP), di-n-pentylphthalate (DPF), di-n-propylphthalate (DPrP) and dicyclohexylphthalate (DCHP), was examined in uterotrophic assay. Phthalate esters dissolved in corn oil were administered to ovariectomized (OVX) female Sprague-Dawley rats by sub-cutaneous injection for three consecutive days. fiats were sacrificed 24h after final treatment, and then uterus and vagina weights were deter mined. All phthalate esters tested in this assay did not change talc uterus and vagina weights at dosage levels up to 200 mg/kg/day treatment. These results demonstrated that phthalate esters did not exhibit estrogenic activity in vivo uterotrophic assay.