Effect of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on human and mouse fetal testis: In vitro and in vivo approaches

Vincent Muczynski (1, 2) , Jean Pierre J. P. Cravedi (3) , Abdelali Lehraiki (1, 2) , Christine Levacher (1, 2) , D. Moison (1, 2) , Charlotte Lécureuil (1, 2) , S. Messiaen (1, 2) , Elisabeth Perdu (3) , R. Frydman (4) , René Habert (1, 2) , V. Rouiller-Fabre (1, 2)

1 SCSR (U_967) - Stabilité génétique, cellules souches et radiations
2 SCSR (U_967) - Stabilité génétique, Cellules Souches et Radiations
3 ToxAlim - ToxAlim
4 Service de gynécologie-obstétrique, médecine de la reproduction [Béclère]

The present study was conducted to determine whether exposure to the mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) represents a genuine threat to male human reproductive function. To this aim, we investigated the effects on human male fetal germ cells of a 10−5 M exposure. This dose is slightly above the mean concentrations found in human fetal cord blood samples by biomonitoring studies. The in vitro experimental approach was further validated for phthalate toxicity assessment by comparing the effects of in vitro and in vivo exposure in mouse testes. Human fetal testes were recovered during the first trimester (7-12 weeks) of gestation and cultured in the presence or not of 10−5 M MEHP for three days. Apoptosis was quantified by measuring the percentage of Caspase-3 positive germ cells. The concentration of phthalate reaching the fetal gonads was determined by radioactivity measurements, after incubations with 14C-MEHP. A 10−5 M exposure significantly increased the rate of apoptosis in human male fetal germ cells. The intratesticular MEHP concentration measured corresponded to the concentration added in vitro to the culture medium. Furthermore, a comparable effect on germ cell apoptosis in mouse fetal testes was induced both in vitro and in vivo. This study suggests that this 10−5 M exposure is sufficient to induce changes to the in vivo development of the human fetal male germ cells.

Mots clés: Phthalates Human Testis Germ cell Fetus

Domaines: Reproduction sexuée

Vincent Muczynski, Jean Pierre J. P. Cravedi, Abdelali Lehraiki, Christine Levacher, D. Moison, et al.. Effect of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on human and mouse fetal testis: In vitro and in vivo approaches. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 2012, 261 (1), pp.97-104. ⟨10.1016/j.taap.2012.03.016⟩. ⟨hal-00776675⟩