October - December 2017, Volume 13, Issue 4

Li K, Wang R, Duan R, Liu Y

The Potential of Diethylhexyl - Phthalate and Genistein to Induce Testicular Change in Rat's Offspring

Acta Endo (Buc) 2017, 13 (4): 417-424
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2017.417

Objective. To study the effect of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) alone or in combination with genistein (GEN) on the reproductive system of offspring rats, focus on the induction of reproductive outcomes. Method. 180 Wistar rats were divided in 6 groups (30 animals per group): DEHP 250 mg/kg/day group, DEHP 1000 mg/kg/day group, DEHP 2500 mg/kg/day group treated with DEHP 2500 mg/kg/day, DEHP (2500 mg/kg) + GEN (50 mg/kg) group, DEHP (2500 mg/kg) + GEN (500 mg/kg) group and control group treated with the same quantity of corn oil. The differences in sperm quality and reproductive organs were observed. Results. After DEHP administration we observed an increase in rat’s abestrus, metaestrus and all estrus cycle (P < 0.05), a decrease in rat testicle’s organ coefficient and relative energy of testis Sertoli cells and an increase in the early, late and total apoptotic rate of testicular Sertoli cells in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05). When combine DEHP with GEN the sperm density, sperm quality, the cell activity rate and testis tissue’s changes will decrease compared with the group that receive only DEHP in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion. DEHP exposure induces cryptorchidism in offspring rats and this is aggravated by adding GEN.

Keywords: DEHP, DEHP+GEN, endocrine disruptors, testicular changes, rat

Correspondence: Yuning Liu MD, Medicine College of Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, Hebei, 056000, China, E-mail: yuningliu01@163.com