Evaluation of ovotoxicity in female mice caused by organic extracts in tap water from Jialing River in Chongqing, China.
BACKGROUND
Recently, toxic effects of widespread organic pollutants have received much attention due to the hazards they pose to female reproductive health. The aim of the present study was to determine the female reproductive toxicity of organic extracts (OE) in tap water from the Jialing River in Chongqing, China.


METHODS
In our experiment, Kunming female mice that exhibited normal estrous cycles were randomly divided into 4 groups, which included a control group (OE 0 L/kg bw) as well as low- (OE 12.5 L/kg bw/day), mid- (OE 25 L/kg bw/day), and high-dose (OE 50 L/kg bw/day) groups. Mice were continually administered intraperitoneal injections of OE at different doses for 5 consecutive days. On the 15th and 30th day after treatments, half of the mice were sacrificed separately.


RESULTS
The results showed that OE decreased relative ovary weights and prolonged the duration of estrous cycle with concomitant increase in estrous phase. There was a significant decrease in the number of corpora lutea of OE-treated mice, but no significant differences were found in healthy and atretic follicle populations compared to control. Ultrastructure observation regarding granulosa cells of the ovary revealed that OE treatment caused mitochondrial swelling together with endoplasmic reticulum expansion.


CONCLUSIONS
All these data indicate that OE could exert adverse effects on the development of ovary and also a slight suppressive effect on reproductive functions.
Xu
Chuan
C
Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Zhang
Jian-jiang
JJ
Chen
Ji-an
JA
Cao
Bo
B
Shu
Wei-qun
WQ
Cao
Jia
J
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002681:China; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D045483:Rivers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical