Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-androgenic effects of Diethyl-O-phthalate in the reproductive development of immature male rats in vivo. Methods: Immature Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed daily with corn oil or Diethyl-O-phthalate ( 100, 200 or 500 mg/kg ) by gavage from postnatal day(PND) 12 and through PND 35 respectively, Flutamide and Testosterone propionate were used as control. Sex accessory tissues were weighed and anogenital distances (AGD) were measured. Plasma levels of Testosterone(T) and luteinizing hormone(LH) were also evaluated with ELISA kits. Results: The weights of seminal vesicle, ventral prostate, drosolateral prostate, lecator ani/bulbocavernosus (LABC) muscle and AGD distances decreased significantly in response to Diethyl-O-phthalate in a dose-dependent manner, but no significant in the other accessory sex tissues. Testosterone levels were significantly decreased in Diethyl-O-phthalate treated groups, whereas luteinizing hormone levels were not altered. Conclusion: our results demonstrated that Diethyl-O-phthalate shows toxicological effects on the male reproductive system in immature male Sprague-Dawley rats resulted from its anti-androgenic effects.
