Data for: Independent and combined effects of Bisphenol A and Diethylhexyl Phthalate on gestational outcomes and offspring development in Sprague-Dawley rats

Bisphenol A (BPA) and Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) are well-studied, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), however, the effects of mixtures of these EDCs are not. To assess the consequences of prenatal exposure to a mixture of these EDCs, dams were orally administered either saline (control), BPA (5μg/Kg BW/day), low-dose (LD) DEHP (5μg/Kg BW/day), high-dose (HD) DEHP (7.5 mg/Kg BW/day), or a combination of BPA with LD- or HD-DEHP. Gestational weights, number of abortions, litter size and weights, number of live births and stillbirths were recorded. Morphometric measures were obtained at birth and body weight, food and water intake were monitored weekly from postnatal weeks 3-12. Offspring were sacrificed at 16-24 weeks of age and organs were dissected and weighed. The abortion rate of dams exposed to HD DEHP and the mixtures, B+LD-D and B+HD-D were higher at 9, 14 and 27% respectively. Prenatal exposure to BPA or HD DEHP significantly decreased relative thymus weights in male but not female offspring at 16 weeks. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) was performed in thymus tissues. Apoptotic cells were detected in thymus sections of offspring prenatally exposed to DEHP. Relative heart weights increased in B+HD-D exposed male offspring compared to the other groups. The results indicate that a mixture of BPA and DEHP, produced a pronounced effect on pregnancy outcomes. Male offspring appear to be more susceptible to the programming effects of these EDCs or their mixture suggesting a need to reconsider the possible additive, antagonistic or synergistic effects of EDC mixtures.