Estrogenic effects of food wrap packaging xenoestrogens and flavonoids in female Wistar rats: a comparative study.
The objective of this study was to compare the estrogenicity of xenoestrogens found in food wrap packaging and phytoestrogen flavonoids. Uterotrophic and vaginal cornification assays were performed on immature and ovariectomized rats. Genistein, bisphenol F, and octylphenol were identified as estrogenic only in immature rats. Using vaginal cornification as a more specific estrogenic parameter, all tested compounds except tangeretin were active in immature rats. While apigenin and kaempferol appeared to have low estrogenic activity, they potentialized the uterotrophic effect of 17beta-estradiol in immature rats. These data showed that (i) phytoestrogens like genistein can be as potent or even more estrogenic than compounds found in food wrap packaging, (ii) immature rats appear to be a more sensitive in vivo model than ovariectomized rats in term of estrogenicity, (iii) the vaginal cornification assay could be a sensitive and useful test to detect weak estrogenic compounds to which humans can be exposed via food.
Stroheker
Thomas
T
UMR 0938 de Toxicologie Alimentaire, ENSBANA, 1 esplanade Erasme, 21000 Dijon, France.
Chagnon
Marie-Christine
MC
Pinnert
Marie-France
MF
Berges
Raymond
R
Canivenc-Lavier
Marie-Chantal
MC
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000633:toxicity; D004967:Estrogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000633:toxicity*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000633:toxicity*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000633:toxicity*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development
D004967:Estrogens; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D005419:Flavonoids; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D004958:Estradiol