Perinatal exposure to the phthalate 'DEHP' alters the expression of estrogen receptors on somatotroph cells, increasing their proliferation ; La exposición perinatal al ftalato 'DEHP' altera la expresión de los receptores estrogénicos de las células somatotropas, aumentando su proliferación

Phthalates are chemicals widely used to make soft andflexible plastics. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is the most commonly used, with high human exposure occurring from fetal development, acting as an endocrine disruptor by interfering with hormonal signaling.The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of perinatal exposure to DEHP on pituitaryEstrogen receptor (ER)α and β expressionand its impact on somatotrophcells. For this, 10 pregnant Wistar rats were exposed by gavage to DEHP (200 µg / kg) or corn oil from day 0 of gestation, during pregnancy and lactation.ForIn vivo experiments, glands from 30 75-day-old male pups were used. For in vitro experiments, 3 pituitary cultures from 10 male rats were stimulated with 1, 10 or 100nM DEHP for 72 h.The percentages of somatotrophcells expressingERα and β were quantified in pituitary cryosections by double immunostaining using confocal microscopy.Cell proliferation was quantified by double immunostaining (ki67+ GH+). The somatotroph cellpopulation was quantified in vivo and in vitro by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry, respectively. Statistical analysis: ANOVA Tukey (P <0.05). Our results showed that perinatal exposure to DEHP significantly increased the percentage of somatotrophsthat expressedERα (GH+ ERα+) with values of 46.08 ± 1.36% vs. Controls (43.23 ± 1.13%). Furthermore, the percentage of somatotrophsexpressingERβ (GH+ ERβ+) also increased significantly after exposure to DEHP, with values of 29.38 ± 0.65% in DEHP and 25.83 ± 0.81% in controls. DEHP induced a significant increase in the somatotrophpopulation (60.8 ± 1.19%) compared to the control (47.33 ± 4.21%).In vitro, DEHP significantly increased the proliferation of somatotrophs (Ki67+ GH+), and the total somatotroph cell population, with values of 16.08 ± 0.9% with DEHP 1nM, 20.81 ± 0.41% DEHP 10nM and 18.6 ± 0.39% DEHP 100nM, vs. control (11.98 ± 0.44%). These results showed that DEHP increased the expression of ERα and β in the somatotroph cell population of male rats in ...