title: In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the estrogenic, androgenic, and progestagenic potential of two cyclic siloxanes.
abstract: The purpose of these experiments was to determine the potential estrogenic, androgenic, and progestagenic activity of two cyclic siloxanes, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5). Receptor-binding experiments and a luciferase reporter gene assay were used to determine if the materials were able to bind and activate either the estrogen receptors (ERs) or progesterone receptors (PRs)-alpha or beta. The rat uterotrophic assay (RUA) for estrogenic activity and the Hershberger assay for androgenic activity were utilized as the in vivo assays. For the ER-binding studies, D4 was shown to bind to ERalpha but not to ERbeta. D5 did not bind to either of the two receptors. D4 activated the reporter gene at 10 microM, while D5 was considered negative in the estrogen reporter gene assay. Neither material was a ligand for the PRs. Both the RUA and Hershberger assays were conducted using whole-body inhalation of the two materials for 16 h/day. D4 resulted in a small but significant increase in both wet and blotted uterine weight as well as increases in both luminal and glandular epithelial cell height in both Sprague Dawley and Fischer 344 rats. D5 was negative in both rat strains, indicating that D5 does not possess estrogenic activity. Neither material possessed any significant antiestrogenic activity. Both materials were negative in the Hershberger assay indicating that neither material possesses any significant androgenic activity. Our studies have shown that D4 exhibits a low affinity for ERalpha in vitro and a weakly estrogenic response in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, Michigan 48686, USA. anne.quinn@dowcorning.com
authors.forename: Anne L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tobin
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Marinik
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Debra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McNett
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sushynski
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Crofoot
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jean
authors.forename: Kathleen P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Plotzke
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012833:Siloxanes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D012833:Siloxanes; C114768:decamethylcyclopentasiloxane; C024064:octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane