Identification of an endocrine disrupting agent from corn with mitogenic activity.
A mitogenic agent in corncob bedding and fresh corn products disrupts sexual behavior and estrous cyclicity in rats. The mitogenic activity resides in an isomeric mixture of linoleic acid derivatives with a tetrahydrofuran ring and two hydroxyl groups (THF-diols) that include 9, (12)-oxy-10,13-dihydroxystearic acid and 10, (13)-oxy-9,12-dihydroxystearic acid. Synthetic THF-diols stimulated breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro and disrupted the estrous cycle in female rats at oral doses of approximately 0.30 mg/kg body weight/day. Exposure to THF-diols may disrupt endocrine function in experimental animals at doses approximately 200 times lower than classical phytoestrogens, promote proliferation of breast or prostate cancer, and adversely affect human health.
Markaverich
Barry M
BM
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. barrym@bcm.tmc.edu
Alejandro
Mary Ann
MA
Markaverich
David
D
Zitzow
Lois
L
Casajuna
Nancy
N
Camarao
Nathan
N
Hill
Jamal
J
Bhirdo
Ken
K
Faith
Robert
R
Turk
John
J
Crowley
Jan R
JR
D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008934:Mitogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
C450724:12-oxy-10,13-dihydroxystearic acid; C450723:13-oxy-9,12-dihydroxystearic acid; D008934:Mitogens; D013229:Stearic Acids; D004958:Estradiol