Effect of di-(2-ethylexyl) phthalate on embryo implantation in early pregnancy and fetus development during medium and late pregnancy in rat

Objective To investigate the effect of di-(2-ethylexyl)phthalate(DEHP)on embryo implantation in early pregnancy and fetus development during medium and late pregnancy in rat.Methods DEHP was administered to pregnant rats at 5,25,50 mg/kg from 1 to 6 days of pregnancy,and other pregnant rats were given DEHP from 7 to 20 days of pregnancy.The pregnant rats were killed on 14th or 21st day of pregnancy.The embryo implantation cases,food intake and body weight of female rats,the weight of fetal body and placenta,the number of live fetuses,the number of dead fetuses,and the number of absorbed fetuses and fetal malformations case for the rats were observed.Results In early pregnancy,embryo implantation cases in DEHP groups of moderate-and high-dose(10.02±2.75,8.77±3.03) were lower than that of in the control group(14.01±3.01).In middle and late pregnancy,the cases of live fetuses in moderate-and high-dose DEHP groups(9.68±1.95,5.86±2.11) were lower than that of in the control group(12.98±1.46).Live birth cases in moderate-and high-dose DEHP groups(8.29±2.02,5.86±2.21) were lower than that of in the control group(12.13±2.06).The weight of fetal body and placenta in moderate-and high-dose DEHP groups(4.92±0.97,4.78±1.12g;0.93±0.09,0.85±0.08g) were lower than those of in the control group(6.05±1.36,1.12±0.12g).Conclusion DEHP can affect blastocyst implantation in early pregnancy and embryo development in middle and late pregnancy.The results indicate that DEHP in moderate-and high-dose may result in early pregnancy loss and adverse fetal development.