Benzo(a)pyrene inhibits ovulation in C57BL/6N mice.
Successful female reproductive function requires follicle growth, ovulation, and formation of the corpus luteum. Treatment of C57BL/6N mice with a single intraperitoneal injection of benzo(a)pyrene in doses ranging from 1 to 500 mg/kg produced a dose- and time-dependent decrease in the number of corpora lutea. This effect on the number of corpora lutea is most pronounced at 1 week after treatment, with a threshold of about 1 mg/kg, and an ED50 of 1.6 mg/kg. By 2 weeks after treatment partial recovery of follicle growth and ovulation occurred, as indicated by an increase in the ED50 to 20 mg/kg. Complete recovery of normal corpora lutea number occurs in mice treated with less than 100 mg/kg by 3 weeks after treatment, with little change in the ED50 noted between 3 and 4 weeks post-treatment, 78 mg/kg at both times. Mice treated with 100 or 500 mg/kg did not recover normal corpora lutea number over the course of this experiment. These data indicate that acute exposure to benzo(a)pyrene, and perhaps other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, may have a transient adverse effect on follicle growth, ovulation, or formation of corpora lutea. A consequence of this effect, transient infertility, has been observed previously when exploring the effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on murine reproduction.
D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects*
D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene