US EPA

4728734 

Journal Article 

The effect of maternal exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate on fetal cardiac development in mice 

Tang, C; Deng, Y; Duan, H; Zhang, Y; Li, Y; Qiu, D; Zhou, K; Hua, Y; Wang, C 

2018 

Yes 

Journal of Applied Toxicology
ISSN: 0260-437X
EISSN: 1099-1263 

John Wiley and Sons Ltd 

38 

6 

834-842 

English 

29377175 

10.1002/jat.3591 

WOS:000430177900005 

https://search.proquest.com/docview/2025907048?accountid=171501
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Accumulating evidence has suggested a link between maternal di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) exposure and various developmental abnormalities. However, the evidence regarding the effect of maternal DEHP exposure on fetal cardiac development is scarce. The present study aimed to determine the effect of maternal DEHP exposure on fetal cardiac development in mice and explore the possible involved mechanism preliminarily. The C57BL mice were randomly divided into four groups: the vehicle group (corn oil, n = 10), 250 mg kg-1 DEHP group (n = 15), 500 mg kg-1 DEHP group (n = 20) and 1 g kg-1 DEHP group (n = 20). Pregnant dams in different group received respective intervention by gavage once daily from embryonic day (E)6.5 to E14.5. Maternal weights were monitored every day and samples were collected at E15.5. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to examine fetal cardiac malformations. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were applied to detect peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α/PPARγ/Nkx2.5/Gata4/Tbx5/Mef2c/Chf1 mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Maternal DEHP exposure significantly decreased maternal body weight, fetal weight and placental weight, and remarkably elevated fetal cardiac malformations rate. The phenotypes of cardiac anomalies mainly include septal defects, ventricular myocardium noncompaction and cardiac hypoplasia. Higher doses DEHP (500 mg kg-1 and 1 g kg-1 ) could significantly decreased fetal cardiac Gata4/Mef2c/Chf1 expression, while PPARγ expression was upregulated. Maternal exposure to higher doses of DEHP could result in fetal cardiac development malformations in mice and it might have resulted from the inhibition of cardiac GATA4/Mef2c/Chf1 expression via PPARγ activation. 

Environmental Studies--Toxicology And Environmental Safety; cardiac development; di‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐phthalate; Heart diseases; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors; Polymerase chain reaction; Hypoplasia; Exposure; Fuel consumption; Rodents; Myocardium; Heart rate; Body weight; Fetuses; Corn oil; Embryos; Abnormalities; Gene expression; Nkx2.5 protein; Ventricle; Placenta