The effect of two anti-androgenic endocrine disrupting compounds, i.e. the
plasticizer di (2-ethylhexyl)
phthalate (
DEHP) and
herbicide butachlor, were evaluated for their effects on
immunoglobulin M (
IgM) and leukocytes in male rainbow trout. Also, plasma
testosterone (T) concentration was measured to confirm their anti-androgenic effects. In the first experiment, trout were treated with 50 mg/kg (
body weight)
DEHP intraperitoneally, and in the second one, fish were exposed to 0.39 mg/L
butachlor for 10 days. The results showed that T concentrations and white blood cells were significantly lower in fish exposed to either
DEHP or
butachlor compared to control fish (p < 0.05). Fish showed significantly elevated neutrophil levels and decreased lymphocyte levels in the
butachlor (p < 0.05); however, no significant difference was observed in lymphocyte and neutrophils values in the
DEHP treatment (p > 0.05). In addition, no significant differences were found in
IgM, eosinophil and monocyte parameters in either
DEHP or
butachlor treatments (p > 0.05). These results confirmed that leukocytes counts can be considered as a novel marker of immunotoxicity triggered by (anti) androgenic
endocrine disruptors.