DBP exposure induced apoptosis both in vitro, in GC-2 cells, and in vivo, in prepubertal rat testis germ cells.
DBP induced ER stress in germ cells both in vitro and in vivo.
ER stress-mediated CHOP activation contributed to DBP-induced germ cell apoptosis.
DBP-induced ER stress also triggered autophagy, which has a protective effect against germ cell death.