The Reproductive Toxicity of Phthalate(2-ethylhexyl) Ester by Oral Exposure during Pregnancy and Lactation in Rats

Objective To observe the procreating and developing toxicity effect of phthalate(2-ethylhexyl) ester on rats.Methods The perinatal toxicity test methods was applied,the negative control group(corn oil) and four DEHP exposure groups(125,250,500,1000 mg/kg) were set,the SD pregnant rats were treated with DEHP by gavage.GD0,GD20,PND21 pregnant rats body weight and weight increase were recorded and compared.At PND1,the total number of birth and average birth weight of young rats were recorded;At PND4 male and female rats were distinguished,male and female rats were measured for average anogenital distance.After weaning(PND21),pregnant rats were killed,the numbers of implantation were counted,organs were weighted and organ coefficients were calculated.Results During exposure to different doses of DEHP,pregnant rats body weight and body weight increase reduced in degrees(P0.05),the organ coefficients were increased in degrees(P0.01),the pregnancy rate of exposure groups showed statistically differences(χ2=16.816,P0.01);Compared with control group,the average number of live births and the average birth weight,the number of uterine implantation of the 1 000 mg/kg group reduced(P0.05),anogenital distance reduced in degrees(P0.01).Conclusion DEHP can reduce female conception rates and the litter size,may have the toxic effect through the placental barrier on the growth of rats,leading to low birth weight,and have the toxic effect on the reproductive development of rats.