Research
Environmental
Health Perspectives - April 2004
Follow-Up Study
of Adolescents Exposed to di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) as
Neonates on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Support
Khodayar
Rais-Bahrami, Suzan Nunez, Mary E. Revenis, Naomi L. C. Luban, and
Billie L. Short
online 7 April 2004
Abstract
di-2-ethylhexyl
phthalate (DEHP) is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic
tubing soft and flexible. Based on animal data, adverse effects of
DEHP exposure may include reduced fertility, and sperm production
in males and ovarian dysfunction in females. Known treatments that
involve high DEHP exposures are blood exchange transfusions, ECMO
and cardiovascular surgery. Although potential exposure to DEHP in
ECMO patients is significant, it has not been associated with
short-term toxicity. To evaluate long-term toxicity, we undertook a
study of neonatal ECMO survivors to assess their onset of puberty
and sexual maturity. Thirteen male and 6 female subjects at age
14-16 years who had undergone ECMO in the neonatal period were
evaluated. All subjects had a complete physical examination
including measurements for height, weight, head circumference and
pubertal assessment by Tanner staging. The testicular volume and
the phallic length were measured in male participants. Laboratory
tests included thyroid, liver and renal function as well as
measurements of LH, FSH, testosterone for males and estradiol for
females. With the exception of one patient with Marfan syndrome,
the rest had normal growth percentile for age and sex. All had
normal values for thyroid, liver and renal functions. Sexual
hormones were appropriate for the stage of pubertal maturity. Our
results indicates that adolescents exposed to significant
quantities of DEHP as neonates showed no significant adverse
effects on their physical growth and pubertal maturity. Thyroid,
liver, renal, male and female gonadal functions tested were within
normal range for age and sex distribution.
For a copy of this
research paper please contact Environmental Health Perspectives
International
Journal of Toxicology vol 22 issue 3
May/June (2003) 159-174
Evaluation of
Reproductive Development Following Intravenous and Oral Exposure to
DEHP in Male Neonatal Rats
Jon N. Cammack,
Randy D. White, Donovan Gordon, Jerome Gass,
Lawrence Hecker, David Conine, Uma Swamy Bruen,
Mitchell Friedman, Charles Echols, Tony Y. Yeh,
and Daniel M. Wilson
Abstract
Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) was administered to 3- to
5-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats by daily intravenous injections
of 60, 300, or 600 mg/kg/day or by daily oral gavage of 300 or 600
mg/kg/day for 21 days. Histopathological evaluation and organ
weight measurements were performed on some animals after 21 days of
dosing (primary group) and later on the recovery group animals that
were held without further treatment until sexual maturity at
approximately 90 days of age. No effects of any type were observed
in animals treated intravenously with 60 mg/kg/day. Testicular
changes, consisting of a partial depletion of the germinal
epithelium and/or decrease in diameter of seminiferous tubules,
were present in all animals of the 300- and 600-mg/kg/day groups
after the 21-day dosing period. Testes weight decreased and liver
weight increased in these animals. Testes changes were dose-related
and generally more severe among animals dosed orally versus
intravenously. In the recovery animals, a residual DEHP-induced
decrease in seminiferous tubule diameter was present in the testis
of several animals dosed orally at 300 and 600 mg/kg/day, but not
in animals dosed intravenously. There was no germinal cell
depletion or Sertoli cell alteration observed in any dose group at
any time. Notably, no effects on sperm count, sperm morphology, or
sperm motility were observed at 90 days of age in any of the
groups.
For a copy of this
research paper please contact the
International Journal of Toxicology
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