Study on the role of maternal sex steroid production and metabolism in the embryotoxicity of para-xylene.
CFY rats were exposed to inhalation of clean air or air containing para-xylene (3000 mg/m3) on the 10th, and 9th and 10th days of gestation. Uterine and ovarian venous blood flow, fetal weight, ovarian progesterone and 17 beta-oestradiol secretion, and the progesterone and 17 beta-oestradiol level of peripheral blood (uterine and femoral veins) were measured on the 11th day of gestation. Exposure to para-xylene decreased the weight of the fetuses and the progesterone and 17 beta-oestradiol levels of peripheral blood, but it did not influence the uterine and ovarian venous outflow and the ovarian progesterone and 17 beta-oestradiol secretion rate. It is concluded that para-xylene, by inducing the hepatic monooxygenase system, facilitates the biotransformation of progesterone and 17 beta-oestradiol, which is metabolized by this enzyme system. The decrease in the sex hormone level of peripheral blood is supposed to play a role in the embryotoxicity (retarding and lethal effects) of para-xylene.
D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply; D014992:Xylenes / Q000633:toxicity*
D014992:Xylenes; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol