Mechanism of testicular atrophy induced by Di‐n‐butyl phthalate in rats. Part 1

Abstract

Repeated oral doses of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) to male rats caused a decrease in testicular fructose and glucose and a sloughing of the germ cells on the first day of treatment. On day 2, more severe sloughing was seen and was accompanied by decreases in testicular iron and zinc levels and increases in the level of inositol and cholesterols. The sloughing was followed by atrophy, accompanied by dissociation of the germ cells from the Sertoli cells and reduction of triglycerides, cholesterols and phospholipids containing choline and ethanolamine residues in the testis.

Effects of Mono(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate, a Testicular Toxicant, on Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Binding to Membranes from Cultured Rat Sertoli Cells1

“…While similar detailed studies have not been completed for all the phthalate diesters toxic to the male reproductive system, the available data suggest that they cause a similar testicular lesion and that the toxicity is due to the mono derivative [2,8,9].…”

“…The testicular lesion produced by DEHP, DBP, DPP, and DHP in immature rats is characterized by severe vacuolation of Sertoli cell cytoplasm and early sloughing of spermatids and spermatocytes [8,9,10]. Further studies have shown that with DPP (and presumably the other active phthalates), the Sertoli cell is the initial and primary target [10,11,13] with the result being a disturbance in the Sertoli cell-germ cell interaction [9,12].…”

Reproductive Toxicity of Di-n-Butylphthalate in a Continuous Breeding Protocol in Sprague-Dawley Rats

“…The phthalate ester di-nbutylphthalate (DBP) is used in the manufacture of consumer products as diverse as nail polish, insect repellents, and denture base material (2-4). DBP has recently been found to have clinical applications as well, selectively eliminating tumor cells from bone marrow (5,6).DBP has been previously characterized as a developmental and reproductive toxicant in the rat (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Comparable oral doses of DBP given to juvenile and adult male rats produces a testicular lesion characterized by early sloughing of germ cells, vacuolization of the Sertoli cell cytoplasm, and testicular atrophy (7,10).…”

“…DBP has been previously characterized as a developmental and reproductive toxicant in the rat (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Comparable oral doses of DBP given to juvenile and adult male rats produces a testicular lesion characterized by early sloughing of germ cells, vacuolization of the Sertoli cell cytoplasm, and testicular atrophy (7,10).…”

“…Comparable oral doses of DBP given to juvenile and adult male rats produces a testicular lesion characterized by early sloughing of germ cells, vacuolization of the Sertoli cell cytoplasm, and testicular atrophy (7,10). It has also been shown that the testicular toxicity of phthalates is age dependent, with immature animals being more sensitive than mature animals (13,14).…”