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Use of the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework to evaluate species concordance and human relevance of Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)-induced male reproductive toxicity.

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Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a phthalate ester used as a plasticizer, and solvent. Studies using rats consistently report that DBP exposure disrupts normal development of the male reproductive system in part via inhibition of androgen synthesis. However, studies using xenograft models report that in human fetal testis DBP exposure is unlikely to impair testosterone synthesis. These results question the validity of the rat model for assessment of male reproductive effects caused by DBP. The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework was used to evaluate the available evidence for DBP-induced toxicity to the male reproductive system. Three relevant biological elements were identified: 1) fetal rats are more sensitive than other rodents and human fetal xenografts to DBP-induced anti-androgenic effects, 2) DBP-induced androgen-independent adverse outcomes are conserved amongst different mammalian models and human fetal testis xenografts, and 3) DBP-induced anti-androgenic effects are conserved in different mammalian species when exposure occurs during postnatal life stages.

Impact/Purpose

The objective of the project described in the abstract below is to develop a mode of action analysis for DBP-induced effects in the male reproductive system and identify outcomes that are conserved in different species.

Citation

Arzuaga, X., T. Walker, E. Yost, E. Radke-Farabaugh, AND A. Hotchkiss. Use of the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework to evaluate species concordance and human relevance of Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)-induced male reproductive toxicity. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 96:445-458, (2020). [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.06.009]

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DOI: Use of the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework to evaluate species concordance and human relevance of Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)-induced male reproductive toxicity.
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Last updated on November 22, 2021
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