Independent and combined effects of Bisphenol A and Diethylhexyl Phthalate on gestational outcomes and offspring development in Sprague-Dawley rats

Bisphenol A (BPA) and Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) are well-studied endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), however, the effects of mixtures these EDCs not. To assess consequences prenatal exposure to a mixture EDCs, dams were orally administered either saline (control), BPA (5 μg/kg BW/day), high dose DEHP (HD-D; 7.5 mg/kg or combination with HD-D in experiment 1; saline, low-dose (LD-D; 5 BW/day) LD-D 2. Gestational weights, number abortions, litter size live births stillbirths recorded. Morphometric measures obtained at birth body weight, food water intake monitored weekly from postnatal weeks 3–12. Offspring sacrificed 16–24 age organ weights measured. The abortion rate exposed mixtures, + higher 9, 14 27% respectively. Prenatal significantly decreased relative thymus male but not female offspring. Apoptotic cells detected sections both offspring prenatally DEHP. Relative heart increased compared other groups. results indicate that DEHP, produced pronounced effect on pregnancy outcomes. Male appear be more susceptible programming their suggesting need reconsider possible additive, antagonistic synergistic EDC mixtures.