Effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and four of its metabolites on steroidogenesis in MA-10 cells

Di 2-ethylhexylphtalate in the aquatic and terrestrial environment: a critical review

Phthalates are being increasingly used as softeners-plasticizers to improve the plasticity and the flexibility of materials. Amongst the different plasticizers used, more attention is paid to di (2-ethylhexylphtalate) (DEHP), one of the most representative compounds as it exhibits predominant effects on environment and human health. Meanwhile, several questions related to its sources; toxicity, distribution and fate still remain unanswered. Most of the evidence until date suggests that DEHP is an omnipresent compound found in different ecological compartments and its higher hydrophobicity and low volatility have resulted in significant adsorption to solids matrix. In fact, there are important issues to be addressed with regard to the toxicity of this compound in both animals and humans, its behavior in different ecological systems, and the transformation products generated during different biological or advanced chemical treatments. This article presents detailed review of existing treatment schemes, research gaps and future trends related to DEHP.

Oxidative stress and phthalate-induced down-regulation of steroidogenesis in MA-10 Leydig cells

Previous studies have shown that phthalate exposure can suppress steroidogenesis. However, the affected components of the steroidogenic pathway, and the mechanisms involved, remain uncertain. We show that incubating MA-10 Leydig cells with mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) resulted in reductions in luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated cAMP and progesterone productions. cAMP did not decrease in response to MEHP when the cells were incubated with cholera toxin or forskolin. Incubation of MEHP-treated cells with dibutyryl-cAMP, 22-hydroxycholesterol or pregnenolone inhibited the reductions in progesterone. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) occurred in response to MEHP. In cells in which intracellular glutathione was depleted by buthionine sulfoximine pretreatment, the increases in ROS and decreases in progesterone in response to MEHP treatment were exacerbated. These results indicate that MEHP inhibits MA-10 Leydig cell steroidogenesis by targeting LH-stimulated cAMP production and cholesterol transport, and that a likely mechanism by which MEHP acts is through increased oxidative stress.

Designing green plasticizers: influence of alkyl chain length on biodegradation and plasticization properties of succinate based plasticizers

Phthalate diesters such as di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are considered ubiquitous contaminants and are poorly biodegraded in the environment. Moreover, both the parent compound and stable metabolites such as mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) are linked to several negative impacts on the environment and human health. Earlier work established that saturated diester compounds, such as succinates, showed better biodegradation characteristics and comparable plasticizer properties compared to DEHP. In this work we examine the effect of alkyl chain length of succinate molecules on plasticizer and biodegradation properties. This included both the side chains (n-ethyl to n-octyl) as well as substituents on the middle part of the succinate molecule. We showed that the common soil bacterium Rhodococcus rhodocrous could rapidly break down all unsubstituted succinates, without the appearance of stable metabolites. Furthermore, the organisms used the plasticizer metabolites as carbon source. The introduction of a large cyclohexyl substituent on the succinate resulted in a poorer degradation rate. Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) measurements were performed to evaluate plasticizer properties and showed that longer side chains reduced the Tg more efficiently, while large cyclohexyl substituents on the succinate decreased this effect. However, all compounds performed better or equal to DEHP at reducing the Tg.

The effects of Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate exposure on fertilization and embryonic development in vitro and testicular genomic mutation in vivo

The present study was undertaken to determine the reproductive hazards of Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) on mouse spermatozoa and embryos in vitro and genomic changes in vivo. Direct low-level DEHP exposure (1 μg/ml) on spermatozoa and embryos was investigated by in vitro fertilization (IVF) process, culture of preimplanted embryos in DEHP-supplemented medium and embryo transfer to achieve full term development. Big Blue® transgenic mouse model was employed to evaluate the mutagenesis of testicular genome with in vivo exposure concentration of DEHP (500 mg/kg/day). Generally, DEHP-treated spermatozoa (1 μg/ml, 30 min) presented reduced fertilization ability (P<0.05) and the resultant embryos had decreased developmental potential compared to DMSO controls (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the transferred 2-cell stage embryos derived from treated spermatozoa also exhibited decreased birth rate than that of control (P<0.05). When fertilized oocytes or 2-cell stage embryos were recovered by in vivo fertilization (without treatment) and then exposed to DEHP, the subsequent development proceed to blastocysts was different, fertilized oocytes were significantly affected (P<0.05) whereas developmental progression of 2-cell stage embryos was similar to controls (P>0.05). Testes of the Big Blue® transgenic mice treated with DEHP for 4 weeks indicated an approximately 3-fold increase in genomic DNA mutation frequency compared with controls (P<0.05). These findings unveiled the hazardous effects of direct low-level exposure of DEHP on spermatozoa's fertilization ability as well as embryonic development, and proved that in vivo DEHP exposure posed mutagenic risks in the reproductive organ – at least in testes, are of great concern to human male reproductive health.

Study on the influence of temperature, storage time and packaging type on di-n-butylphthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate release into packed meals

Ready-to-eat meals packed in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and aluminium dishes, supplied to patients in two hospitals in the Campania region (Italy), were studied to evaluate the probable migration of di-n-butylphthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) from the packaging into the food. The influence of temperature, storage time and type of package on the migration process was considered, analysing the meals according to three time ranges, before the packaging (T(0)) and after 60 min (T(1)) and 120 min (T(2)) from packaging during the storage in thermostatic delivery carts. At T(0) in the meals sampled before packaging in PET dishes, mean levels of DBP and DEHP were 0.023 ± 0.002 µg/g and 0.069 ± 0.041 µg/g, respectively; the DBP level increased 230% and that of DEHP increased 208% by time T(0) versus T(2). In the meals sampled before packaging (T(0)) in aluminium dishes, the mean levels of DBP and DEHP were 0.030 ± 0.001 µg/g and 0.057 ± 0.015 µg/g, respectively. The significant increase in contaminant levels over storage times for meals packed in PET dishes demonstrates that from packages made of plastic materials the migration of phthalic acid esters into foods is possible. In meals packed in PET dishes, the highest DBP and DEHP increases were observed in the T(0) to T(1) range, which represented the time interval over which meals were kept hot, and mainly in the first ones, where the highest temperatures have been recorded.