Objective: To investigate the effects of di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHP) and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) on hypophysis/thyroid axis in utero, pregnant rats were exposed to DHP or DCHP at doses of 0, 20, 100, and 500 mg/kg bw/d, by gavage, on gestational days (GD) 6-19.
Materials and Methods:The rats were allowed to grow up until adult (PD 90) stages. Body weights were recorded weekly. After treatment period, hormone analysis was determined in serum samples. Histopathological examinations revealed histopathological changes in thyroid gland on rats that received DHP or DCHP.Results: There were no significant differences in body weights of male adult rats among groups. However, in female rats, final body weights were statistically decreased in 100 mg/kg/d DHP group but increased in DCHP treated rats at dose of 100 and 500 mg/kg/d in dose-response experiment. There was a decrease of TSH level in DHP 100 mg/kg/d and DCHP 500 mg/kg/d groups in male and female rats. T4 levels were increased in DCHP 20 and 100 mg/kg/d groups. In male rats, an increase of TSH level was found in DCHP 20 and 100 mg/kg/d treatment groups. Similarly, an increase of T3 level was found in DCHP 100 and 500 mg/kg/d groups. Also, in thyroid tissue, increase of adipose tissue, colloidal degeneration, and follicular degeneration was observed in all treatment groups.
Conclusions:The results of this study suggest that DHP and DCHP, which was applied in pregnancy period, cause changes to T3, T4, and TSH hormone levels and thyroid histology in adult rats.
The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of di- n-hexyl phthalate (DHP) and di-cyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) on endocrine organs in rats. Oil control, 20-, 100-, and 500 mg/kg dose groups were selected and administered to pregnant rats on gestational days 6–19 by oral gavage. The neonatal stages of rats continued until postnatal day 20 and the- juvenile stages of rats continued until postnatal day of 32. The rats were allowed to mature until the neonatal and juvenile stages and there after, they were divided into four groups corresponding to the treatment levels. Body and organ weights were recorded, serum was collected, and thyroid, pancreas, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland were removed. There was a decrease in body weights in the 20- and 500mg/kg DHP and in the 20-mg/kg DCHP dose groups in neonatal male rats. In contrast, for female rats, there was an increase in body weights in the 100-mg/kg DCHP dose group and there was a decrease in body weights in the 500-mg/kg DHP dose group. Body weights were increased at 20 and 500 mg/kg in the DHP-exposed juvenile male rats. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were increased in neonatal male rats, while they were increased in the 100-mg/kg DHP group of neonatal and juvenile female rats. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels were increased at the high dose of DHP for neonatal male rats and at the low and high dose levels of DCHP for female rats. Serum thyroxine (T4) levels were increased in neonatal rats for DHP. Also, some histopathological changes were observed in the thyroid, pancreas, adrenal, and pituitary gland. In conclusion, it was shown that DHP and DCHP caused negative effects on T3, T4, and TSH hormone levels.
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