Oxidative Damage Induced by Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate and Protective Effects of Soybean Isoflavones in Mice
邻苯二甲酸二乙基己酯(DEHP)对小鼠的氧化损伤及黄豆异黄酮对其保护作用的研究

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is widespread in the environment. As endocrine disruptors, it has seriously threatened human health and ecological environment safety. Male Kunming mice were treated daily with DEHP at the dosages of 250, 500 and 1 000 mg·kg-1·d-1, the relative organ weight, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and L-Glutathione (GSH), and testis histology were investigated after 30-d DEHP treatment. Liver and lung enlargement and severe testicular atrophy were observed in a dose-dependent manner. The contents of hepatic MDA significantly increased, while the levels of hepatic and blood GSH both significantly decreased. In testis histological analysis, disruptions of spermatogenesis were observed such as necrosis and apoptosis of testicular cells, and massive sloughing of seminiferous tubule epithelium. The results showed that DEHP caused oxidative damage and reproductive toxicity in immature male mice, particularly at relatively high doses (500 and 1 000 mg·kg-1·d-1). To investigate the protective effect of soybean isoflavones (SI) on DEHP-induced oxidative damage and testicular injury, the mice were exposed to 1 000 mg·kg-1·d-1 DEHP and 100 mg·kg-1·d-1 SI. It is demonstrated that SI supplementation could significantly attenuate DEHP-induced oxidative stress and testicular injury in mice, probably due to the properties of SI as antioxidant and estrogen regulator.