Abstract: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an environmental endocrine disruptor that possesses weak estrogenic and anti-androgenic activity. Humans and wildlife exposed to DEHP lifetime through different channels. Maternal DEHP can be transferred either to the fetus across the placenta during pregnancy, or to the nursing infant through breast milk during lactation. Perinatal DEHP exposure can interfere with the effect of estrogen on brain development through sex-specifically changing the activities of aromatase enzyme and estrogen receptor in hypothalamic preoptic area of rat offspring. DEHP and its metabolites affect the proliferation and differentiation of neurons, synapse formation, and the regulatory effects of amino acid neurotransmitters system on gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons which are modulated by sexual hormones. DEHP affects the development of dopamine neurotransmitter system of the midbrain and induces motor hyperactivity. These effects of DEHP ultimately lead to abnormal development of behaviors such as early behavior, learning and memory, and emotional behavior of animal.

Key words: di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, neural developmental toxicity, environmental endocrine disruptor