title: Effects of vertically transferred 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl on gene expression in the ovaries of immature Sprague-Dawley rats.
abstract: We have previously shown that 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB-126) vertically transferred from dams potentially exerts a direct effect on the ovaries of offspring and adversely affects female puberty. To investigate its toxicological targets in ovarian tissues, mRNAs encoding representative peptides that regulate follicular development in granulosa cells, theca cells, and oocytes were quantified using ovaries collected on postnatal days (PND) 5, 15, and 24 from the offspring of dams administered oral doses of 0, 1 or 3 microg/kg PCB-126 starting 2 weeks prior to mating and continuing until 20 days after delivery. Quantification using the real-time RT-PCR method revealed that PCB-126 lowered the amounts of mRNAs that encoded the inhibin alpha- and inhibin/activin beta A-subunits from PND 15 onwards; the amounts of mRNAs for inhibin/activin beta B-subunit, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor, and aromatase on PND 15; and the amounts of luteinizing hormone receptor mRNA on PND 24 compared with those of the age-matched controls. In contrast, no differences were noted for mRNAs encoding c-kit, growth differentiation factor-9, bone morphogenetic protein-15, or kit ligand for any of the age groups examined. The serum FSH level on PND 24 was higher than that in the control. Since the earliest effects on the mRNAs in the rat ovaries were observed in those expressed in the granulosa cells of the growing follicles after the antral follicles had developed, molecules in granulosa cells but not in oocytes during the early stages of the antral follicles might be the primary targets of vertically transferred PCB-126.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Biosciences and High-Tech Research Center, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakurada
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirota
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akahori
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taya
authors.forename: Kinji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirota
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000235:genetics; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C525904:Bmp15 protein, rat; D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; C525899:Gdf9 protein, rat; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; C023035:3,4,5,3',4'-pentachlorobiphenyl