Testing potential effect of environmental endocrine disruptors in cow milk on reproductive index in female rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of endocrine disruptor chemicals in cow milk on female reproductive system.


METHODS
A two-generation reproduction was conducted according to U. S. FDA standard. Milk was fed in special bottle to Wistar rats of both sexes through two successive generations (F0 and F1) in the milk group while artificial milk was fed to rats in the control group. Twenty-four rats of each sex were mated in each group. Measurements were made according to this guideline.


RESULTS
Reproductive parameters in the milk group such as fertility index, gestation index, weights of uterus and ovary, days of vaginal opening, estrous cycles, histological morphological changes were comparable to those in the control group. However, the means of body weight had some differences. The body weight gains increased significantly in the milk-treated group in F1 and F2 generation compared with those in the control group. The concentration of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in blood in the milk group was comparable to that in the control group, but the standard deviation changed greatly in the milk-treated rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Endocrine disruptor chemicals in milk have no severe effects on the female reproductive system.
Li
Xiang-Ming
XM
Preventive Medicine Department, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, Jiangsu, China. lxm109@yahoo.com
Ganmaa
Davaasambuu
D
Qin
Li-Qiang
LQ
Sato
Akio
A
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I