The Effects of the Endocrine Disruptor Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate in the Hypothalamic POMC and NPY Neurons

Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that affects endocrine system function. Disruption by DEHP can lead to the development of feeding disorders, such as obesity. Considering that DEHP disturbs the endocrine system and can lead to feeding disorders, we made the connection that disruption by this toxicant could affect the hypothalamic feedings neurons. To have a better understanding of how this EDC disturbs the feeding-circuit, we are focusing on in vivo embryonic exposure of mice to DEHP to see the effects on the hypothalamic feeding network at birth. We hypothesized that embryonic exposure to DEHP on mice disturbs the development of the hypothalamic feeding neurons leading to disrupted levels of Pomc and Npy1 expression. In our studies, we found no apparent difference between groups in either Pomc or Npy1 gene levels. Further research is needed to understand these results further.