Abstract
BackgroundPhthalate esters like n-butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) are widely used plasticizers. BBP has shown endocrine-disrupting properties, thus having a potential effect on hormone-sensitive tissues. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of neonatal/prepubertal exposure (post-natal days 2–20) to BBP on maturation parameters and on the morphology, proliferative index and genomic signature of the rat mammary gland at different ages of development (21, 35, 50 and 100 days).ResultsHere we show that exposure to BBP increased the uterine weight/body weight ratio at 21 days and decreased the body weight at time of vaginal opening. BBP did not induce significant changes on the morphology of the mammary gland, but increased proliferative index in terminal end buds at 35 days and in lobules 1 at several ages. Moreover, BBP had an effect on the genomic profile of the mammary gland mainly at the end of the exposure (21 days), becoming less prominent thereafter. By this age a significant number of genes related to proliferation and differentiation, communication and signal transduction were up-regulated in the glands of the exposed animals.ConclusionThese results suggest that BBP has an effect in the gene expression profile of the mammary gland.
Highlights
Phthalate esters like n-butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) are widely used plasticizers
Adult BBP intake has been estimated at 2 μg/kg body weight/day and it has been stated that exposure to infants and children could be up to threefold higher [1]
BBP is one of the phthalates selected by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR), because of its high production volume, potential for human exposure from their widespread use and occurrence within the environment, concern to the public, and
Summary
Phthalate esters like n-butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) are widely used plasticizers. BBP has shown endocrine-disrupting properties, having a potential effect on hormone-sensitive tissues. Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) is a plasticizer commonly used in pipes, vinyl floor tiles, vinyl foams, and carpet backing, and to a minor extent, in cellulose plastics and polyurethane [1] This compound has shown to be weakly estrogenic [2], and to induce adverse effects on the development of male reproductive system [3,4,5], acting as an endocrine disruptor. Prenatal and prepubertal exposure of rats to such compounds induced significant alterations on reproductive system of males, like undescended testes, decrease in the anogenital distance and other malformations of the external genitalia, sex accessory glands, epididymis and testes [3,4,5] It has been reported a decrease in the weight of the ovaries in females exposed during adulthood, as well as changes in the offspring of exposed rats, including a decrease of the body weight of male and female at birth and an increase in the anogenital distance in females [10]. All these changes are compatible with an endocrine disrupting action of BBP
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