title: Effects of in utero exposure to 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) on somatic growth and endocrine status in rat offspring.
abstract: Exposure to polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) mixtures at an early stage of development has been reported to affect endocrine glands; however, little is known about the precise toxicological properties of individual PCB. The present study was undertaken to determine whether prenatal exposure to 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153), a di-ortho-substituted non-coplanar congener, affects postnatal development in rat offspring. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (Crj: CD (SD) IGS) were given PCB 153 (0, 16, or 64 mg/kg/day) orally from gestational day (GD) 10 through GD 16, and developmental parameters in the male and female offspring were examined. We found no dose-dependent changes in body weight, body length (nose-anus length), tail length, or the weights of kidneys, testes, ovaries and uterus in offspring at 1 or 3 weeks of age. Liver weights were increased in the PCB 153-treated groups, although we observed a significant difference only in males. Anogenital distance was unaffected in the PCB 153-treated groups. We observed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the plasma concentrations of thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine, whereas those of thyroid-stimulating hormone were not significantly changed. In addition, there were no dose-dependent changes in plasma concentrations of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I in any dose group. These findings suggest that prenatal exposure to PCB 153 (GD 10-16, 16-64 mg/kg/day) may alter the thyroid status in rat offspring to some extent without affecting somatic growth or its related hormonal parameters.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Kawasaki, Japan. kobayasi@h.jniosh.go.jp
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Muneyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyagawa
authors.forename: Rui-Sheng
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sekiguchi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Honma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D013974:Thyroxine; C014024:2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl