Nonmonotonic Effects of Chronic Low-Dose Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate on Gonadal Weight and Reproduction

Endocrine disruptors have been concerned in toxicology but now challenged as physiological point especially concerned with exposing dose and period. In this study the low-dose chronic administration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthaltae (DEHP) during reproductive period was examined to evaluate the possible roles. Adult male and female CD-1 mice were exposed to DEHP with drinking water containing $133{\mu}g/L$ and $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP in water according to OECD 433 guide line and sacrificed just after weaning. The weights of uterus and ovary were decreased by drinking of $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP water. There was not adverse effects on either accumulated mating rate and mating rate depend on estrus stage, pregnancy duration, and sex ration at birth. However, the accumulated rate of successful delivery and litter size were significantly high at $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP water. The number of epididymal sperm was significantly increased by drinking of $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP water. In addition, the number of follicles (primary, secondary, tertiary) were more many than control at $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP water drunk mother. Though further studies are needed to identify what are the mechanism of DEHP in folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis. From this study we firstly report the effect of low-dose chronic administration of DEHP with drinking could change the ovarian follicle population size and spermatogenesis rate. Put together, those finding is different from previous high-dose effects and suggest the physiological role of DEHP in gonads and uterus.