[Effects of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate(DEHP) on mouse embryos development in vitro]

Whole-embryo culture was used as the model system to study the effects of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on mice embryonic development. Mouse embryos (8.5 days old) during the period of organogenesis were exposed to immediately centrifugal serum (ICS) with DEHP at concentrations of: 0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 mg/L for 48 hours. The results showed that DEHP could cause damage to embryonic development and there was a significant dose-response and dose-effect relationship between concentration of DEHP and its embryonic developmental toxicity. At higher levels ((25 mg/L), DEHP could induce embryonic developmental retardation and significant morphological abnormalities. Abnormal heart, neural system, arch and small limb-bud development were the most common gross morphological abnormalities. But there was no significant increase in the number of nonviable embryos. The finding suggested that DEHP can induce developmental toxicity in vitro at higher level and teratogenicity may be the major effect.