Testicular atrophy induced by di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate: effect of zinc supplement.

The administration of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) to young male rats was found to cause testicular atrophy and loss of testicular zinc. In an attempt to test the hypothesis that a cause and effect relationship exists between DEHP-induced loss of testicular zinc and testicular injury, zinc was coadministered (by ip injection or by dietary supplementation) with DEHP (po) for 10 days and organ weights and zinc concentrations were then measured. This testicular atrophy was not prevented by coadministration of zinc. The zinc concentration in the testis was not increased by zinc supplement despite increases in zinc concentrations in liver and serum. The results suggest that the toxic effect of DEHP on the testis may not result from an interference with gastrointestinal absorption of zinc.