title: Effects of gestational and lactational exposure to low doses of PCBs 126 and 153 on anterior pituitary and gonadal hormones and on puberty in female goats.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate if environmental doses of PCB 153 and PCB 126 could produce effects in a controlled animal model. Possible adverse effects on the hypothalamic-pitutitary-gonadal axis were examined by measuring gonadotrophins and gonadal steroid hormone concentrations in goat kids exposed during gestation and lactation. The concentrations of PCB 153 and PCB 126 in adipose tissue in the goat kids 9 months post-partum were 5800 ng/g (fat-weight, range; 2900-12700 ng/g) and 0.49 ng/g (fat-weight, range; 0.28-0.80 ng/g), respectively. The pre- and post-pubertal plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (Prl) and progesterone (P4) were analysed. LH, FSH, Prl, and P4 were also measured during an induced oestrus cycle. The prepubertal LH concentration was significantly lower, the puberty was delayed and the P4 level during the luteal phase of an estrous cycle was higher in the group exposed to PCB 153. No significant effect of PCB 153 exposure was found on Prl and FSH. PCB 126 did not produce any effects at the exposure level tested in this study. In conclusion, perinatal exposure to PCB 153 affected the reproductive function and the puberty maturation in goats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 8146 Dep., NO-0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lyche
authors.forename: Irma C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Oskam
authors.forename: Janneche U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Skaare
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Reksen
authors.forename: Torres
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: Wenche
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Farstad
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ropstad
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000097:blood*; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D023421:Models, Animal; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C023035:3,4,5,3',4'-pentachlorobiphenyl; C014024:2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl