Manipulation of pre and postnatal androgen environments and anogenital distance in rats

Abstract

We examined the anogenital distance (AGD) plasticity in rats through the manipulation of the androgen environment in utero and during puberty. Dams were treated from gestation days 13-20 with vehicle, flutamide (20mg/kg/day), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, 750mg/kg/day), or testosterone (1.0mg/kg/day). After weaning, male pups were randomly assigned to one of four postnatal groups, which received the same treatments given prenatally. Sixteen treatment groups were established based on the combination of pre- and postnatal exposures. The postnatal treatments were conducted from postnatal days 23-53. In utero flutamide and DEHP exposure significantly shortened male AGD, although this effect was more pronounced in flutamide-exposed rats. Postnatal flutamide, DEHP, and testosterone induced slight but significant reductions in male AGD. Our study indicates that AGD is a stable anatomical landmark that reflects the androgen action in utero, although it can also be slightly responsive to changes in the androgen environment following pubertal exposure.

Exposure to male-dominated environments during development influences sperm sex ratios at sexual maturity

“…; Kita et al. ). Alternatively, it could be that the density of males within the postnatal, preweaning maternal environment led to differences in sperm sex ratios.…”

Adverse child health impacts resulting from food adulterations in the Greater China Region

“…In a study on rats, animals fed 750 mg kg −1 day −1 between gestation days 13 and 20 showed significant reduction in AGD (P = 0.001). 32 AGD was significantly correlated with penile width (r = 0.31, P < 0.05) and penile length (r = 0.16, P ≈ 0.05). 31 In addition to penile width and length, AGD is also correlated with penile volume.…”

“…The concentrations of phthalate metabolites, including the DEHP metabolites MEHP, mono‐(2‐ethyl‐5‐hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) and mono‐(2‐ethyl‐5‐oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), were related to AGD in infants (Table ). In a study on rats, animals fed 750 mg kg −1 day −1 between gestation days 13 and 20 showed significant reduction in AGD ( P = 0.001) . AGD was significantly correlated with penile width ( r = 0.31, P < 0.05) and penile length ( r = 0.16, P ≈ 0.05) .…”

“…Urine wileyonlinelibrary.com/jsfa [43][44][45] DEHP and DiNP cause prematurity (before birth) 26,27 Melamine causes kidney stones and inflammation [70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80] Melamine harms the hippocampus and decreases learning abilities [85][86][87][88] is (For males only) Both DEHP and DiNP affect testes weight 29 and Leydig cell function 35 DEHP causes incomplete testicular descent 33,34 DiNP affects epididym weight 29 (For males only) DEHP causes a decrease in penile width and volume, [31][32][33][34] causes hypospadias 20,21 and microalbuminuria 23,24 DEHP is related to ADHD symptoms 51 MEHP is related to ASD symptoms 52 DEHP is related to lower vocabulary and lower intelligence 48,49 DEHP and DiNP enter the body via respiration 7 Melamine, DEHP and DiNP enter the body via food ingestion [7][8][9] DEHP and DiNP enter the body via dermal contact 7 were related to AGD in infants ( Table 6). In a study on rats, animals fed 750 mg kg −1 day −1 between gestation days 13 and 20 showed significant reduction in AGD (P = 0.001).…”

Endoplasmic reticulum stress, a novel significant mechanism responsible for DEHP‐induced increased distance between seminiferous tubule of mouse testis

“…As a common environmental pollutant, the negative effects of in uterus DEHP exposure on male reproduction have been extensively demonstrated in numerous studies in rodent and humanity (Axelsson et al, ; Ungewitter et al, ). In male rodents, the testicular injuries involve reduction in testis weights and anogenital distance (AGD), decrease in number of spermatogenic cells layers and the sperm density, reduced sperm motility, and disability in fertility (Do, Stahlhut, Ponzi, Saal, & Taylor, ; Grande et al, ; Jones, Boisvert, Francois, Zhang, & Culty, ; Kita et al, ). Besides, DEHP exposed in uterus also lead to the production of hypospadias and cryptorchidism (J. Chen et al, ; Skakkebaek, Rajpertde, & Main, ).…”