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Differential Effects of Phthalates on the Testis and the Liver¹

School of Molecular Biosciences³ College of Pharmacy,⁴ Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164

Phthalates have been shown to elicit contrasting effects on the testis and the liver, causing testicular degeneration and promoting abnormal hepatocyte proliferation and carcinogenesis. In the present study, we compared the effects of phthalates on testicular and liver cells to better understand the mechanisms by which phthalates cause testicular degeneration. In vivo treatment of rats with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) caused a threefold increase of germ cell apoptosis in the testis, whereas apoptosis was not changed significantly in livers from the same animals. Western blot analyses revealed that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) is equally abundant in the liver and the testis, whereas PPAR and retinoic acid receptor (RAR) are expressed more in the testis. To determine whether the principal metabolite of DEHP, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), or a strong peroxisome proliferator, 4-chloro-6(2,3-xylindino)-2-pyrimidinylthioacetic acid (Wy-14,643), have a differential effect in Sertoli and liver cells by altering the function of RAR and PPARs, their nuclear trafficking patterns were compared in Sertoli and liver cells after treatment. Both MEHP and Wy-14,643 increased the nuclear localization of PPAR and PPAR in Sertoli cells, but they decreased the nuclear localization of RAR, as previously shown. Both PPAR and PPAR were in the nucleus and cytoplasm of liver cells, but RAR was predominant in the cytoplasm, regardless of the treatment. At the molecular level, MEHP and Wy-14,643 reduced the amount of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase (activated MAPK) in Sertoli cells. In comparison, both MEHP and Wy-14,643 increased phosphorylated MAPK in liver cells. These results suggest that phthalates may cause contrasting effects on the testis and the liver by differential activation of the MAPK pathway, RAR, PPAR, and PPAR in these organs.

¹ Supported by grant ES09978 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

² Correspondence: Kwan Hee Kim, School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4234. FAX 509 335 1907; khkim{at}wsu.edu

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