title: Reproductive toxicity of Aroclor-1254: effects on oocyte, spermatozoa, in vitro fertilization, and embryo development in the mouse.
abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been reported to adversely affect reproduction in laboratory and wild animals. The present study was undertaken to determine the toxic potential of Aroclor-1254 (A-1254) on in vitro fertilizing ability of oocytes and epididymal sperm and on preimplantation embryo development in the mouse. A-1254 was added to the IVF medium at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 micrograms/mL. Cumulus masses containing the oocytes were obtained from superovulated B6D2F1 mice and were placed in the culture medium containing A-1254 to which epididymal sperm, capacitated in a medium without A-1254, were added. The IVF rate was assessed 20 to 24 h after insemination. A-1254 significantly reduced the mean percent ova fertilized even at 0.1 microgram/mL. Incubation of the cumulus masses in various concentrations of A-1254 for 6 h, followed by insemination with sperm capacitated in the presence of A-1254, also significantly reduced the IVF rate. Capacitation of sperm in A-1254-containing medium, followed by coculture with untreated oocytes, failed to affect the IVF rate. No significant effect on sperm motility was observed following exposure to 1 and 10 micrograms/mL of A-1254. Estradiol-17 beta also reduced the IVF rate, however, the effect of A-1254 was more severe compared to the estradiol treatment. Furthermore, addition of A-1254 to the embryo culture medium was associated with a significant decrease in embryo growth at 48 h and 96 h. These results demonstrate adverse effects of A-1254 on oocytes, IVF, and embryonic development in the mouse.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kholkute
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Dukelow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001140:Aroclors / Q000633:toxicity*; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001140:Aroclors; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D004958:Estradiol