title: The effect of benzo(a)pyrene on murine ovarian and corpora lutea volumes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Women who smoke have impaired fertility and experience menopause at an earlier age. This experiment determined the effect of benzo(a)pyrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contained in cigarette smoke, on murine ovarian volume, total corpora lutea volume, individual corpora lutea volumes, and corpora lutea numbers.
  
  
  METHODS
  C57BL/6N mice were treated with intraperitoneal injections of 0 to 500 mg/kg benzo(a)pyrene in corn oil. The 20 mice at each dose were divided into four groups of five each and were killed at 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks after treatment. Ovaries were serially sectioned and analyzed morphometrically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Benzo(a)pyrene produced a dose- and time-dependent decrease in ovarian volume, total corpora lutea volume, and number of corpora lutea per ovary. This effect was transitory at low doses with complete recovery of corpora lutea by 4 weeks. Compensatory hypertrophy of the individual corpora lutea occurred during the recovery phase. Ovarian function did not return in animals treated with the two highest doses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Benzo(a)pyrene is a murine ovarian toxicant that inhibits corpus luteum formation in a dose- and time-dependent fashion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Plowchalk
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Weitzman
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: London
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Mattison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene