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Impact of diisobutyl phthalate and other PPAR agonists on steroidogenesis and plasma insulin and leptin levels in fetal rats

Boberg, J. ; Metzdorff, S. ; Wortziger, R. ; Axelstad, M. ; Brokken, Leon LU ; Vinggaard, A. M. ; Dalgaard, M. and Nellemann, C. (2008) In Toxicology 250(2-3). p.75-81
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting chemicals can induce malformations and impairment of reproductive function in experimental animals and may have similar effects in humans. Recently, the environmental obesogen hypothesis was proposed, suggesting that environmental chemicals contribute to the development of obesity and insulin resistance. These effects could be related to chemical interaction with nuclear receptors such as the peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs). As several testosterone-reducing drugs are PPAR activators, we aimed to examine whether four PPAR agonists were able to affect fetal testosterone production and masculinization of rats. Additionally, we wished to examine whether these chemicals affected fetal plasma levels of... (More)
Endocrine disrupting chemicals can induce malformations and impairment of reproductive function in experimental animals and may have similar effects in humans. Recently, the environmental obesogen hypothesis was proposed, suggesting that environmental chemicals contribute to the development of obesity and insulin resistance. These effects could be related to chemical interaction with nuclear receptors such as the peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs). As several testosterone-reducing drugs are PPAR activators, we aimed to examine whether four PPAR agonists were able to affect fetal testosterone production and masculinization of rats. Additionally, we wished to examine whether these chemicals affected fetal plasma levels of insulin and leptin, which play important roles in the developmental programming of the metabolic system. Pregnant Wistar rats were exposed from gestation day (GD) 7-21 to diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), butylparaben, perfluorooctanoate, or rosiglitazone (600, 100, 20, or 1 mg/kg bw/day, respectively). Endocrine endpoints were studied in offspring at GD 19 or 21. DiBP, butylparaben and rosiglitazone reduced plasma leptin levels in male and female offspring. DiBP and rosiglitazone additionally reduced fetal plasma insulin levels. In males, DiBP reduced anogenital distance, testosterone production and testicular expression of Insl-3 and genes related to steroidogenesis. PPARalpha mRNA levels were reduced by DiBP at GD 19 in testis and liver. In females, DiBP increased anogenital distance and increased ovarian aromatase mRNA levels. This study reveals new targets for phthalates and parabens in fetal male and female rats and contributes to the increasing concern about adverse effects of human exposure to these compounds. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Rats, Messenger/biosynthesis/genetics, Adrenal Glands/drug effects/metabolism, Animals, Dibutyl Phthalate/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology, Body Weight/drug effects, Estradiol/blood, Female, Fetus/*metabolism, Gene Expression/drug effects, Gestational Age, Immunohistochemistry, Leptin/*blood, Insulin/*blood, Male, Liver/drug effects/metabolism, PPAR gamma/agonists, Ovary/drug effects/metabolism, PPAR alpha/agonists, Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors/*agonists, RNA, Pregnancy, Wistar, Steroids/*biosynthesis, Testis/drug effects/metabolism, Testosterone/blood
in
Toxicology
volume
250
issue
2-3
pages
75 - 81
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:49849083537
ISSN
0300-483X
DOI
10.1016/j.tox.2008.05.020
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
e031c3b7-6cb9-4ade-aca0-edf420f52e4a (old id 1501024)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18602967
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300483X08002618
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:28:11
date last changed
2022-04-06 18:39:46
@article{e031c3b7-6cb9-4ade-aca0-edf420f52e4a,
  abstract     = {{Endocrine disrupting chemicals can induce malformations and impairment of reproductive function in experimental animals and may have similar effects in humans. Recently, the environmental obesogen hypothesis was proposed, suggesting that environmental chemicals contribute to the development of obesity and insulin resistance. These effects could be related to chemical interaction with nuclear receptors such as the peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs). As several testosterone-reducing drugs are PPAR activators, we aimed to examine whether four PPAR agonists were able to affect fetal testosterone production and masculinization of rats. Additionally, we wished to examine whether these chemicals affected fetal plasma levels of insulin and leptin, which play important roles in the developmental programming of the metabolic system. Pregnant Wistar rats were exposed from gestation day (GD) 7-21 to diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), butylparaben, perfluorooctanoate, or rosiglitazone (600, 100, 20, or 1 mg/kg bw/day, respectively). Endocrine endpoints were studied in offspring at GD 19 or 21. DiBP, butylparaben and rosiglitazone reduced plasma leptin levels in male and female offspring. DiBP and rosiglitazone additionally reduced fetal plasma insulin levels. In males, DiBP reduced anogenital distance, testosterone production and testicular expression of Insl-3 and genes related to steroidogenesis. PPARalpha mRNA levels were reduced by DiBP at GD 19 in testis and liver. In females, DiBP increased anogenital distance and increased ovarian aromatase mRNA levels. This study reveals new targets for phthalates and parabens in fetal male and female rats and contributes to the increasing concern about adverse effects of human exposure to these compounds.}},
  author       = {{Boberg, J. and Metzdorff, S. and Wortziger, R. and Axelstad, M. and Brokken, Leon and Vinggaard, A. M. and Dalgaard, M. and Nellemann, C.}},
  issn         = {{0300-483X}},
  keywords     = {{Rats; Messenger/biosynthesis/genetics; Adrenal Glands/drug effects/metabolism; Animals; Dibutyl Phthalate/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology; Body Weight/drug effects; Estradiol/blood; Female; Fetus/*metabolism; Gene Expression/drug effects; Gestational Age; Immunohistochemistry; Leptin/*blood; Insulin/*blood; Male; Liver/drug effects/metabolism; PPAR gamma/agonists; Ovary/drug effects/metabolism; PPAR alpha/agonists; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors/*agonists; RNA; Pregnancy; Wistar; Steroids/*biosynthesis; Testis/drug effects/metabolism; Testosterone/blood}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2-3}},
  pages        = {{75--81}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Toxicology}},
  title        = {{Impact of diisobutyl phthalate and other PPAR agonists on steroidogenesis and plasma insulin and leptin levels in fetal rats}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2008.05.020}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.tox.2008.05.020}},
  volume       = {{250}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}