The Effect of Di-butyl Phthalates (dbp) and Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalates (dehp) on Female Rats Fertility

Phthalate esters are industrial chemicals widely used in cosmetics, plastics bottles and medical devices, and the risk of exposure to phthalates is on the increase. In recent years, many studies have been carried out on the possible health hazards of phthalates, including the effect on reproduction. In this study rats were injected twice weekly with Di-butyl Phthalates (DBP) or Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalates (DEHP) (100 mg/kg) and cohabited with male rats for one month. Fertility and mortality rates as well as fecundity were impacted significantly. Fertility rate decreased from 87 % in control rsats to 67 % in DBP treated and 50 % in DEHP treated rats. Similarly mortality rate in new born litters increased from 2.8 % in control rats to 52.3 % in DBP treated and 31.3 % in DEHP treated rats. Fecundity rate which expresses the average number of litters in each delivery was reduced from 8.2 in control rats to 7.3 in DBP treated and 5.3 in DEHP treated rats. No significant changes were observed in total body weight gain, or with the relative weight of the heart, spleen, liver, or brain organs. However significant decrease in relative weight was detected in kidneys (7% P≤0.05) that have been treated with DBP (100 mg/kg). DNA oxidative stress (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) and hepatotoxicity (GOT and GPT) biomarkers increased considerably in female rats following continuous treatment with DBP (100 mg/kg). INTRODUCTION: Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are a class of industrial compounds widely used as softeners of plastics, solvents in perfumes, toys, food packaging and additives to hairsprays, lubricants.