Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an environmental endocrine disruptor, is widely present in the environment and some products with phthalate plasticizer. It has become a serious problem in recent years. The effect of DEHP on female reproductive system is still not well-studied. This study was to investigate the effects of DEHP on hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis in adult female rats. Compared with control rats, the DEHP-treated rats showed: (1) lower body weight; (2) lower organ coefficient of ovary; (3) higher GnRH level in the hypothalamus; (4) higher mRNA and protein levels of GnRHR in the pituitary; and (5) lower serum sex hormone levels. Our data reveal that DEHP exposure may lead to the disruption of estrogen biosynthesis pathways in female rats and imbalance of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis. DEHP may impose negative influence on the development and function of the reproductive system in female rats.
Keywords: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; Endocrine disruptors; HPOA; Reproductive toxicity; Sex hormone.
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