Notice of RetractionEvaluation of Estrogenic Activity of BBP to Mice in Organic and Molecular Level

N-butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) was wildly used to increase the flexibility or plasticity of the material to which they are added, normally rigid plastic and as additives in paint and adhesives. Its estrogenic activity has been more and more concerned recently. So many studies have been done in vivo and vitro. But the mechanism is still unclear. In this paper, the effects of BBP on mice uterine wet weight, modulation of ER (estrogen receptors) mRNA level and their relation were studied. Both the uterus wet weight and the expression of the ERα (α subtype) increased compared with the control. It showed that uterus wet weight reach to the highest level in the 2.5ml/kgbw BBP dosing group while the expression of ERα were of significant difference in 0.25/kg-bw BBP dosing group compared with the controls. It suggested that semi-quantitative RT-PCR may more sensitive than Uterotrophic assays. The ERβ here may exhibit an inhibitory action on ERα mediated gene expression and the actions of ERβ also protect the uterus wet weight from increasing. But the ERβ expression mechanisms need further examination for BBP estrogenic activity. It indicated that the molecular level may be more sensitive for the estrogen activity detecting.