Comparison of the hepatic effects of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in Chinese and Syrian hamsters: In vivo/In vitro correlations

Abstract

Male Chinese and Syrian hamsters were fed a 0.5% (w/w) mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) diet for 14 days. A greater increase in liver size and greater induction of peroxisomal enzyme activities were observed in Chinese than in Syrian hamsters. This quantitative species difference in response to MEHP was also observed in vitro in primary hepatocyte cultures. Furthermore, two metabolites of MEHP, which are also known to induce peroxisomal enzyme activities in rat primary hepatocyte cultures, stimulated enzyme activities in Chinese hamster but not in Syrian hamster hepatocytes.