Transgenerational reproductive and neurotoxic effects of plasticizer dicyclohexyl phthalate in Caenorhabditis elegans

Dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) is a widely used plasticizer, yet its potential toxicity remains insufficiently characterized. In this study, Caenorhabditis elegans was employed to investigate the reproductive and neurotoxic effects of DCHP, along with its transgenerational impacts. Parental exposure to DCHP significantly impaired head thrashing and body bending, accompanied by morphological abnormalities in dopaminergic neurons. Additionally, DCHP exposure led to a reduction in both the number of eggs laid and the number of fertilized eggs, which was associated with the upregulation of apoptosis-related genes (cep-1, ced-3, ced-4 and ced-9). Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress were also observed in C. elegans. Notably, these toxic effects were transmitted to the F1 generation but were alleviated in the F2 generation, potentially due to increased expression of skn-1 and gst-4. This study addresses critical gaps in the toxicological profile of DCHP and provides a scientific foundation for evaluating its ecological and human health risks.