Endocrine disruption caused by perinatal exposure to phthalates: effects on the prostate of rats

Abstract

Plasticizers are additives widely used in the manufacturing of plastic products, however, they represent a great risk to the environment and health of several organisms. Among these compounds are phthalates, environmental micropollutants that have mutagenic potential and can act as endocrine disruptors, capable of altering animal homeostasis, promoting several morphological, metabolic and reproductive changes, including oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions and prostate cancer. In this context, the present study aims to evaluate whether perinatal exposure to an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalates is capable of altering the structure of the rat prostate, as well as impacting the main hormone receptors in this tissue. For this, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats will be treated with a mixture of six different phthalates [DEHP (Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), DEP (Diethyl phthalate), DBP (Di-n-butyl phthalate), DiBP (Diisobutyl phthalate), BBP (Butylbenzyl phthalate) and DiNP (Diisononyl phthalate)] from gestational day 12 to postnatal day 21, by daily gavage, at doses of 0µg, 20µg, 200µg and 200mg/kg. On postnatal day 120, the offspring will be euthanized and the ventral prostate of each male will be removed, weighed and histologically processed for histopathological analysis, mast cell count and immunohistochemistry for AR (androgen receptor), ER-± and ER-² (estrogen receptors).