Impact of Butylparaben on Uterine Weight of C3H Albino Mice

Parabens are alkyl ester compounds of p-hydroxy benzoic acid and are widely used as preservatives in many pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCP), foodstuffs etc. Four parabens methyparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben are found to be most widely used parabens in products of daily human use. Butylparaben is found to show stronger estrogenic response compared to rest of the widely used parabens. Many in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that parabens are weak estrogenic chemicals including butylparaben. Butylparaben is found to be 10,000 fold times less potent than 17β estradiol. In this experiment, adult C3H albino mice of 8 weeks of age were exposed to both high and low dose of butylparaben and the effect of butylparaben on uterine weight was studied through uterotrophic assay. For the experiment five different doses of butylparaben mg/Kg body weight of 10 mg/Kg body weight/day, 50 mg/Kg body weight/day, 100 /day, 500 mg/Kg body weight/day, 1000 mg/Kg body weight/day was considered. The adult C3H albino mice were grouped as vehicle control (olive oil), positive control (estradiol) and the above five different doses of butylparaben and were administered with the doses for seven consecutive days through subcutaneous route of administration. After the shortterm exposure of 7 consecutive days, butylparaben was found to show a significant increase in uterine weight at doses 50 mg/Kg body weight/day and 500 mg/Kg body weight/day.