• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.186-186
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• 2002

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.144.2-145
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• 2001

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.151-152
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• 2004

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2006

Our previous research has identified granulin (grn) and p130 genes as sex steroid-inducible genes in the rat hypothalamus, which might be involved in sexual differentiation of the brain. Phthalate esters that are used as plasticizers and also found at low levels in foods such as dairy products are often mentioned as suspected endocrine disrupters. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate whether perinatal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) affects hypothalamic sex steroid-inducible genes. The present study assessed the effects of perinatal exposure to DBP, DINP and DEHA on sex steroid hormones levels and hypothalamic gm and p130 mRNA expressions at postnatal day (PND) 3 and 7. Pregnant rats were fed a soy-free diet containing 20, 200, 2,000 and 10,000 ppm of DBP, 40, 400, 4,000 and 20,000 ppm of DINP, or 480, 2,400 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA from gestational day (GD) 15 to GD 3 or 7. At PND 3 and 7, perinatal exposure to these chemicals did not substantially affect serum concentrations of testosterone and estradiol. At PND 3, the expression of grn mRNA levels in males was decreased by DEHA, and that of p130 was decreased by DBP, DINP and DEHA, though the effects were not dose-dependent. At PND 7, the expression of gm gene in female pups was increased by higher doses of DBP and all the doses, except for 4,000 ppm, of DINP, while that in male pups decreased by 480 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA. Hypothalamic expression of p130 mRNA in males was increased by lower doses of DBP and all the doses of DINP, whereas that of females was decreased by 480 and 2,400 ppm of DEHA. These results suggest that these chemicals may affect the expression of gm and p130 genes by directly acting on the hypothalamus, thus leading to inappropriate expression of these genes.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.651-662
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• 2006

Phthalate esters that are used as plasticizers and also found at low levels in foods such as dairy products are often mentioned as suspected endocrine disrupters. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate whether perinatal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate(DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) affects several aspects of reproductive function in rats especially sexual differentiation of the brain. To this end, the dams were provided with pulverized soy-free diet containing 20, 200, 2,000 and 10,000 ppm of DBP, 40, 400, 4,000 and 20,000 ppm of DINP, or 480, 2,400 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA from gestational day (GD) 15 to postnatal day (PDN) 21, the day of weaning, and serum sex steroid hormone, gonadotropin levels and sexual behaviors after maturation were assessed. At Postnatal week (PNW) 20-21, serum levels of sex steroids and gonadotropins in both male and female rats, as well as estrous cyclicity in females, were not changed by perinatal exposure to DBP, DINP and DEHA, indicating that these chemicals did not affect sexual differentiation of the brain controlling the endocrine system of hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. On the other hand, inhibitory influences on sexual behaviors, especially on ejaculation in males and lordosis in females, were observed by perinatal exposure to these chemicals. These results suggest that these chemicals may act directly on discrete regions of the hypothalamus regulating sexual behaviors, but not regulating gonadotropin secretion, thereby affect sexual differentiation of the brain with a resultant decrease in sex-specific behaviors in adulthood.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.545-552
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• 2005

The major protocol features of the rodent uterotrophic assay have been evaluated using a range of reference chemicals. The protocol variables considered include the selection of the test species and route of chemical administration, the age of the test animals, the maintenance diet used, and the specificity of the assay for estrogens. The rodents were ovariectomized under general anesthesia via bilateral flank incisions and randomly assigned to groups of 5 animals. Chemicals were DEHP, DBP, BPA and NP, were injected sc once daily with combinations of chemicals treatments for 3 days. In the results, the reported estrogenic chemicals DEHP and DBP were both negative in the single dose treatments. But, in the combinations of chemicals treatments, DEHP and DBP increased in bud number of mammary gland. Treatment of ovariectomized mice with combinations of other chemicals resulted in uterine and vaginal hyperplasia. The additive estrogenic effects were seen with the combinations of $17{\beta}$-Bestradiol and DBP treatment. the competitive estrogenic effects were seen with the combinations of $17{\beta}$-Bestradiol and nonylphenol, $17{\beta}$-Bestradiol and bisphenol-A treatments. These results offers a sysmatic and mechanistically informative approach to assessing estrogenicity. it provides a useful profile of activity using a reasonable amount of resources and is compatible with the study of individual chemicals as well as the investigation of interactions among combinations of chemicals. The results described illustrate the intrinsic complexity of evaluating chemicals for estrogenic activities and conform the need for rigorous attention to experimental design and criteria for assessing estrogenic activity.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.218-222
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• 2007

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) were screened for estrogenic activity using a recombinant yeast screening system consisted with estrogen receptors and ${\beta}-galactosidase$ as reporter gene. The chemicals showed estrogenic activity in ranges of $1{\times}10^{-10}\;to\;1{\times}10^{-7}M(DEHP)\;and\;of\;1{\times}10^{-9}M\;to\;1{\times}10^{-6}M(DBP)$ respectively. $17{\beta}-estradiol$, as a positive control of, showed maximal activity at $1{\times}10^{-9}M$. The concentration of half-maximal estrogenic activity was $1{\times}10^{-9}M$ for both chemicals. However, the concentration of maximal estrogenic activity was $1{\times}10^{-7}M$ for DEHP and $1{\times}10^{-8}M$ M for DBP. These results suggested that DBP was higher in relative potencies and more sensitive than DEHP. In conclusion, DEHP and DBP were both estrogenic, even though DBP was more reactive to estrogen receptor.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2004

In order to understand the mechanism of the regulation of drug metabolizing enzyme gene expression, we have studied the induction of CYP1A1 and GSTα, μ, π enzymes in Japanese monkey and rhesus monkey after the treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) and di-n- butyl phthalate (DBP) and bisphenol A (BPA). The levels of mRNA were measured_by RT-PCR in brain, intestine and liver. In the case of adult monkey, treatment with 3MC induced CYP1A1 mRNA in brain by 2-fold. The treatment with DBP induced CYP1A1 mRNA. Effects of 3MC and DBP on GST mRNA expression was not clear. But GSTμ was slightly inhibited by the treatment with 3MC and DBP. GSTα was not induced by the treatment with 3MC and DBP in brain. GSTπ was slightly induced by the treatment with 3MC and DBP in brain. In the case of fetus monkey, the basal levels of fetus CYP1A1 mRNA and GSTs mRNA were relatively low compared to adult monkey. As the age of monkey increased, the basal levels of CYP1A1 mRNA were also increased. 3MC induced the expression of CYP1A1 mRNA in liver, whereas it didn't significantly induce CYP1A1 mRNA in brain. The levels of GSTμ and GSTα were not changed by the treatment with 3MC and DBP. GSTπ was slightly induced by the treatment with 3MC and DBP.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2004

In order to understand the mechanism of the regulation of drug metabolizing enzyme gene expression, we have studied the induction of CYP1A1 and $GST\alpha,$ $\mu,$ $\pi$ enzymes in Japanese monkey and rhesus monkey after the treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and bisphenol A (BPA). The levels of mRNA were measured by RT-PCR in brain, intestine and liver. In the case of adult monkey, treatment with 3MC induced CYP1A1 mRNA in intestine by 11-fold. The treatment with DBP induced CYP1A1 mRNA. Effects of 3MC and DBP on GST mRNA expression was not clear. But $GST\mu$ was slightly inhibited by the treatment with 3MC and DBP. $GST\alpha$ was induced in intestine by 1.5-fold. $GST\pi$ was slightly induced by the treatment with 3MC and DBP in intestine. In the case of fetus monkey, the basal levels of fetus CYP1A1 mRNA and GSTs mRNA were relatively low compared to adult monkey. As the age of monkey increased, the basal levels of CYP1A1 mRNA were also increased. 3MC induced the expression of CYP1A1 mRNA didn't significantly induce CYP1A1 mRNA in intestine. The levels of $GST\mu$ and $GST\pi$ were not changed by the treatment with 3MC and DBP. $GST\pi$ was slightly induced by the treatment with 3MC and DBP.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2004

In order to understand the mechanism of the regulation of drug metabolizing enzyme gene expression, we have studied the induction of CYP1A1 and GST$\alpha$, $\mu$, $\pi$ enzymes in Japanese monkey and rhesus monkey after the treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) and di-n- butyl phthalate (DBP) and bisphenol A (BPA). The levels of mRNA were measured by RT-PCR in brain, intestine and liver. In the case of adult monkey, treatment with 3MC induced CYP1A1 mRNA in liver by 10-fold. The treatment with DBP induced CYP1A1 mRNA. Effects of 3MC and DBP on GST mRNA expression was not clear. But GST$\mu$ was slightly inhibited by the treatment with 3MC and DBP. GST$\pi$ was not induced by the treatment with 3MC and DBP in liver. GST$\alpha$ was slightly induced by the treatment with 3MC and DBP in liver. In the case of fetus monkey, the basal levels of fetus CYP1A1 mRNA and GSTs mRNA were relatively low compared to adult monkey. As the age of monkey increased, the basal levels of CYP1A1 mRNA were also increased. 3MC induced the expression of CYP1A1 mRNA in liver. The levels of GST$\mu$ and GST$\alpha$ were not changed by the treatment with 3MC and DBP. GST$\pi$ was slightly induced by the treatment with 3MC and DBP.