Potential involvement of Fgf10/Fgfr2 and androgen receptor (AR) in renal fibrosis in adult male rat offspring subjected to prenatal exposure to di- n -butyl phthalate (DBP)

We previously demonstrated that maternal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) induces dysplasia of the kidney in newborn male offspring and renal fibrosis in adults. But the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Fgf10/Fgfr2 and androgen receptor (AR) are known to be important for renal development. We therefore investigated whether these genes are involved in DBP-induced renal fibrosis. Using Sprague-Dawley rats and rat renal proximal tubular cells (NRK52E), we determined the potential involvement of Fgf10, Fgfr2 and AR in DBP-induced renal fibrosis. We found that maternal exposure to DBP induces renal fibrosis in adult male offspring. A lower serum testosterone concentration and reduced expression of Fgf10, Fgfr2 and AR were detected in these animals. These was a trend toward lower expression of Fgf10, Fgfr2 and AR in NRK52E cells subjected to DBP exposure. Furthermore, higher expression levels of TGF-β and α-SMA were observed in abnormal renal tissue and DBP-treated NRK52E cells. Our findings suggest the potential involvement of Fgf10/Fgfr2 and AR in renal fibrosis of adult male rat offspring induced by prenatal exposure to DBP. The anti-androgenic effects of DBP might play an important role in this pathological process.