Exposure to the endocrine disruptor di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate affects female reproductive features by altering pulsatile LH secretion

Abstract The patterns of growth of preovulatory follicles and corpora lutea, as well as plasma concentrations of estradiol, progesterone and LH were evaluated in sheep exposed to DEHP. There were not found effects on the preovulatory follicular dynamics nor on the ovulatory efficiency between DEHP-exposed and control sheep. However, plasma estradiol concentration was significantly higher in the ewes exposed to DEHP than in the control females ( P P P