title: Ultrastructural changes observed in rat ovaries following in utero and lactational exposure to low doses of a polybrominated flame retardant.
abstract: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), used as flame retardants in textiles, plastics and electrical appliances, have been shown to interfere with thyroid homeostasis. We evaluated the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations (low doses) of 2,2',4, 4',5-pentabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE-99) on the female reproductive system. A single dose of either 60 microg or 300 microg PBDE-99/kg body weight (BW) was administered on gestation day 6 to gravid Wistar rats. A reference control was treated with 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) on gestation days 7-21. Ultrastructural changes compatible with altered mitochondrial morphology were observed in the ovaries of the F1 offspring. No statistically significant changes in ovarian follicle counts were observed. Mating of the F1 females with untreated males revealed resorption rates in the PBDE groups greater than the limits considered normal for our controls. External and skeletal anomalies were detected in offspring (F2) from two different dams (F1) with early developmental exposure to 300 microg PBDE-99/kg BW. Exposure to PBDE-99 resulted in female reproductive tract changes in the F1 generation which were apparent at adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Charité University Medical School Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Toxicology, Garystr. 5, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Chris E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Talsness
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shakibaei
authors.forename: Sergio N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kuriyama
authors.forename: Simone Wichert
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sterner-Kock
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schnitker
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Konstanze
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grote
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chahoud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000633:toxicity*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000633:toxicity*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013623:Tail / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether