Estrogenic and androgenic activity of PCBs, their chlorinated metabolites and other endocrine disruptors estimated with two in vitro yeast assays.
Investigations of environmental pollution by endocrine-disrupting chemicals are now in progress. Up to now, several in vitro bioassays have been developed for evaluation of the endocrine disruptive activity; however, there is still a lack of comparative studies of their sensitivity. In this work comparison of the estrogen screening assay based on beta-galactosidase expression and a bioluminescent estrogen screen revealed differences in the sensitivity and specificity of the two tests. With the beta-galactosidase screen a slight estrogen-like activity of Delor 103, a commercial mixture of PCB congeners, and a fungicide triclosan was measured whereas no activity was detected using the bioluminescent assay. A bioluminescent androgen test negated previously suggested androgenic potential of triclosan. Further, this work demonstrates the androgenic activity of Delor 103, with an EC(50) value of 2.29 x 10(-2)mg/L. On the other hand, chlorobenzoic acids (CBAs), representing potential PCB degradation metabolites, exhibited no androgenic activity but were slightly estrogenic. Their estrogenicity varied with their chemical structure, with 2,3-CBA, 2,3,6-CBA, 2,4,6-CBA and monochlorinated compounds exhibiting the highest activity. Thus the results indicated possible transitions of the hormonal activity of PCBs during bacterial degradation.
Svobodová
K
K
Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídenská 1083, CZ-142 20 Prague, Czech Republic. ksvobod@biomed.cas.cz
Placková
M
M
Novotná
V
V
Cajthaml
T
T
D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
D000728:Androgens; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004967:Estrogens; C015550:2,4',5-trichlorobiphenyl; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D001616:beta-Galactosidase