Qigen Xie, Haiming Cao, Hanchao Liu, Kai Xia, Yong Gao, Chunhua Deng
BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies suggested the association between prenatal di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure and disorders of sex development (DSD), adult male disorders, and reproductive aging. Inhibiting testosterone synthesis by interfering with steroidogenic gene expression induces testicular toxicity, however, whether prenatal DEHP exposure induces testicular toxicity through this mechanism remains uncertain. METHODS: C57BL/6JGpt male mice underwent different doses (0, 100, 500, 1,000 mg/kg) of prenatal DEHP exposure during gestational day 10 to delivery day, the testicular toxicity (genital development, testosterone, semen quality, and morphology of testis tissue) in the neonatal, post-puberal and middle-aged stages was observed, and the steroidogenic gene ( Lhcgr , Star , Cyp11a1 , Cyp17a1 , Hsd17b3 , and Hsd3b2 ) expression was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot (WB)...
March 31, 2024: Translational Andrology and Urology