DEHP Exposure Raises Adult Anxiety in Male Rats, Reversed by 2 Treatments
Updated
Updated · Newswise · Jun 13
DEHP Exposure Raises Adult Anxiety in Male Rats, Reversed by 2 Treatments
2 articles · Updated · Newswise · Jun 13
Summary
Male rats exposed to DEHP before birth and through weaning showed more adult anxiety-like behavior, including less time in open maze arms and longer freezing time.
Daily oral exposure began on day 1 of gestation and continued until weaning, then researchers tested the offspring at 70 days old in an elevated plus maze.
GABA agonists given 90 minutes before testing and testosterone dosed every 48 hours for 14 days both reversed the DEHP-linked behavior pattern.
The ENDO 2026 study says the findings in rodents suggest early exposure to endocrine-disrupting plasticizers could leave lasting behavioral effects beyond the exposure period.