Evaluation of liver and thyroid toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats after exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether BDE-209.

Abstract

Our goal in the present study was to evaluate whether decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), which is the most abundant polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) found in human samples, affects against target organs. Sprague-Dawley male rats were exposed to vehicle or BDE-209 (100, 300, or 600 mg/kg body weight, daily) from postnatal day (PND) 10 to PND 42. There was no significant difference in body and male reproductive organ weight changes compared with controls. However, liver, thyroid and adrenal gland weights were significantly increased in the high-dose of BDE-209 group. BDE-209 significantly induced the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2, CYP3A1, and CYP2B1) enzymes in the liver. Furthermore, constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane xenobiotic receptor (PXR) expression levels were also increased in a dose-dependent manner. Total serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentration was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone was significantly increased with BDE-209 treatment. In the histological findings, multiple areas of degenerated follicular epithelium and slight attenuation of the follicular epithelium were observed in the thyroid glands by high doses (300 and 600 mg/kg) of BDE-209 treatment. The presence of hepatocytic fatty degeneration and inflammatory foci were also observed in the 300 and 600 mg/kg of BDE-209 group. These findings demonstrate that BDE-209 induces hyperthyroidism and hepatotoxicity. In the future, further research is needed to determine the relationship between target organ toxicity and blood concentrations of BDE-209.

• Authors: Ena Lee, Tae Hyung Kim, Jae Seok Choi, Patra Nabanata, Na Young Kim, Mee Young Ahn, Ki Kyung Jung, Il Hyun Kang, Tae Sung Kim, Seung Jun Kwack, Kui Lea Park, Seung Hee Kim, Tae Seok Kang, Jaewon Lee, Byung Mu Lee, Hyung Sik Kim
• Journal: The Journal of toxicological sciences (J Toxicol Sci) Vol. 35 Issue 4 Pg. 535-45 (Aug 2010) ISSN: 1880-3989 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 20686340 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
• decabromobiphenyl ether

Topics

• Animals
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers (toxicity)
• Humans
• Liver (drug effects)
• Male
• Organ Size
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Thyroid Gland (drug effects)