Maslinic acid supplementation prevents di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced apoptosis via PRDX6 in peritubular myoid cells of Chinese forest musk deer

•The DEHP was detected in serum and hair of M. berezovskii in captivity in some farms.•MA fed female M. berezovskii improved the survival rate of M. berezovskii pups.•DEHP induces oxidative stress and apoptosis of PMCs by reducing PRDX6 expression.•MA prevents DEHP inducing apoptosis via upregulating PRDX6 in PMCs. Chinese forest musk deer (FMD), an endangered species, have exhibited low reproductive rates even in captivity due to stress conditions. Investigation revealed the presence of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an environmental endocrine disruptor, in the serum and skin of captive FMDs. Feeding FMDs with maslinic acid (MA) has been observed to alleviate the stress response and improve reproductive rates, although the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the alleviation of DEHP-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in primary peritubular myoid cells (PMCs) through MA intake. Primary PMCs were isolated and exposed to DEHP in vitro. The results demonstrated that DEHP significantly suppressed antioxidant levels and promoted cell apoptosis in primary PMCs. Moreover, interfering with the expression of PRDX6 was found to induce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell apoptosis in primary PMCs. Supplementation with MA significantly upregulated the expression of PRDX6, thereby attenuating DEHP-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in primary PMCs. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for mitigating stress levels and enhancing reproductive capacity of in captive FMDs. [Display omitted]