Short period exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate regulates testosterone metabolism in testis of prepubertal rats

Exposure of pubertal rats to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) for 14 days was reported to result in reduced testosterone (T) biosynthesis by altering androstenedione 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activity. However, our study indicated that shorter period exposure of DEHP (100 or 1000 mg/kg for 5 days) to 4-week-old male rats did not affect the activity of 17beta-HSD, the rate-limiting enzyme of T biosynthesis in the testis. Testosterone 5alpha-reductase (T5alpha-R) activity in the testis was significantly enhanced, while aromatase mRNA was significantly reduced by increasing doses of DEHP. The expressions of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms, CYP2C11 and CYP3A, in the testis increased along with their enzymatic activities, T16alpha- and T6beta-hydroxylation, respectively. Thus, the current study clearly indicates that the short period exposure to DEHP alters T metabolism through altering activities of T5alpha-R, aromatase and CYP2C11/3A2 in the testis of prepubertal rats, and that they are more sensitive marker enzymes to the DEHP exposure than those of biosynthetic enzymes of T from androstenedione.