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1249402 
Journal Article 
Effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and four of its metabolites on steroidogenesis in MA-10 cells 
Piché, CD; Sauvageau, D; Vanlian, M; Erythropel, HC; Robaire, B; Leask, RL 
2012 
Yes 
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
ISSN: 0147-6513
EISSN: 1090-2414 
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE 
SAN DIEGO 
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2012, May; 79:108-115. [Ecotoxicology and environmental safety] 
79 
108-115 
English 
22236953 
WOS:000302107000015 
Phthalate plasticizers are used in the plastics industry to aid in processing and impart flexibility to plastics. Due to the broad use of plastics, and the tendency of plasticizers to leach out of polymers, plasticizers have become ubiquitous in the environment. Concerns about the testicular toxicity of phthalate plasticizers, in particular di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), have arisen due to their ability to cause male reproductive tract abnormalities in animal models. It has been assumed that the DEHP metabolite, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), is the active compound, however, metabolites such as 2-ethylhexanol, 2-ethylhexanal and 2-ethylhexanoic acid, have not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-androgenic potential of these metabolites in vitro with a mouse Leydig tumor cell line, MA-10 cells. DEHP, MEHP and 2-ethylhexanal were found to decrease cell viability, as well as steroidogenic potential. The latter was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify steroid production and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to assess gene expression analysis of key steroidogenic enzymes. 2-Ethylhexanal proved to be the most potent steroidogenic disruptor, offering intriguing implications in the search for the mechanism of phthalate testicular toxicity. Overall, the study suggests the involvement of multiple active metabolites in the testicular toxicity of DEHP. 
Phthalate; Plasticizer; MA-10 cells; di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; Steroidogenesis; DEHP metabolites