Di-(۲-ethylhexyl) phthalate induces precocious puberty in adolescent female rats

Objective(s): Nowadays, Di-(۲-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is widely used in different kinds of commercial products as a plasticizer. Previous studies have revealed that exposures to DEHP could be associated with precocious puberty in teenagers, but the exact mechanism is yet to be known. Materials and Methods: In this study, ۴۸ prepubertal Wistar female rats were randomly apportioned into ۴ groups and orally treated with ۰, ۲۵۰, ۵۰۰, and ۱۰۰۰ mg/kg/d DEHP from postnatal day ۲۱ up to ۴ weeks. Subsequently, we examined the indicators related to the initiation of sexual development. Results: DEHP was able to shorten the vaginal opening time and prolong the estrous cycles of female rats. IGF-۱ expression was significantly upregulated by ۱۰۰۰ mg/kg/d DEHP in the hypothalamus, and the hypothalamic, as well as serum levels of GH, were also upregulated by DEHP. It also caused decrements in serum levels of FSH, LH, and T and the increment in level of progesterone. Meanwhile, DEHP was able to exert its effect on the mRNA and protein expression levels of Kiss-۱, GPR۵۴, and GnRH in the hypothalamus in pubertal female rats. Conclusion: These findings are revealing that DEHP exposure more likely causes imbalances of hypothalamus functioning in pubertal female rats and thus induces precautious puberty in these animals.

کلیدواژه ها:

Di-(۲-ethylhexyl) phthalate ، Female ، Hypothalamus ، Precocious puberty ، Reproductive