In utero and lactational exposures to low doses of polybrominated diphenyl ether-47 alter the reproductive system and thyroid gland of female rat offspring.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are capable of disrupting thyroid hormone homeostasis. PBDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) is one of the most abundant congeners found in human breast adipose tissue and maternal milk samples.

OBJECTIVES:

We evaluated the effects of developmental exposure to low doses of PBDE-47 on the female reproductive system.

METHODS:

Pregnant Wistar rats were administered vehicle (peanut oil) or PBDE-47 [140 or 700 microg/kg body weight (bw)] on gestation day (GD) 6, or 5 mg 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)/L in the drinking water from GD7 through postnatal day (PND) 21.

RESULTS:

In female offspring sacrificed on PND38, there was a significant decrease in ovarian weight after exposure to PTU or 140 microg/kg PBDE-47. Alterations in folliculogenesis were apparent: we observed a decrease in tertiary follicles and serum estradiol concentrations in the offspring exposed to either PTU or 700 microg/kg PBDE-47. PTU exposure also resulted in a decrease in primordial follicles. On PND100, persistent effects on the thyroid glands included histologic and morphometric changes after exposure to either PTU or PBDE-47. No relevant changes in reproductive indices were observed after mating the exposed F1 females with nontreated males.

CONCLUSIONS:

Administration of PBDE-47 at doses relevant to human exposure led to changes in the rat female reproductive system and thyroid gland.

• Authors: Chris E Talsness, Sergio N Kuriyama, Anja Sterner-Kock, Petra Schnitker, Simone Wichert Grande, Mehdi Shakibaei, Anderson Andrade, Konstanze Grote, Ibrahim Chahoud
• Journal: Environmental health perspectives (Environ Health Perspect) Vol. 116 Issue 3 Pg. 308-14 (Mar 2008) ISSN: 0091-6765 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18335096 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
• Polybrominated Biphenyls
• 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether
• Estradiol
• Aromatase

Topics

• Animals
• Aromatase (metabolism)
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Estradiol (blood)
• Female
• Genitalia, Female (drug effects, enzymology, pathology)
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
• Lactation
• Maternal Exposure (adverse effects)
• Organ Size (drug effects)
• Ovary (drug effects, enzymology, pathology)
• Polybrominated Biphenyls (toxicity)
• Pregnancy
• Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Reproduction (drug effects)
• Thyroid Gland (drug effects, pathology)