ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that dibutyl phthalate has certain toxicity to the reproductive system of male animals. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of dibutyl phthalate on secretion of rat ovarian granulose cells. METHODS:Ovarian granulosa cells from 25-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in vitro and exposed to different concentrations of dibutyl phthalate (0, 5, 20, 80μmol/L) for 24 hours. Estradiol and progesterone in ovarian granulosa cells were measured by the method of radio-immunity. Expression of the cytochrome P450aromatase and P450 side chain cleavage enzyme mRNA in granulosa cells were examined by real-time PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The levels of estradiol and progesterone in granulosa cells decreased after exposure to dibutyl phthalate. With the increase of the dibutyl phthalate concentration, the expression of P450arom and P450scc mRNA decreased gradual y. Dibutyl phthalate could induce reproductive dysfunction and toxicity to female rats.