title: In utero and lactational exposure to Aroclor 1254 affects bone geometry, mineral density and biomechanical properties of rat offspring.
abstract: Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) induce a broad spectrum of toxic effects in various organs including bone. The most susceptible age-groups to the toxic effects of PCBs are foetuses and infants. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively evaluate changes in bone geometry, mineral density and biomechanical properties following perinatal exposure to the PCB mixture, Aroclor 1254 (A1254), and to examine the persistence of observed bone alterations by following the offspring over time. Sprague-Dawley rat offspring were exposed to A1254 from gestational day 1 to post-natal day (PND) 23. Femur and tibia were collected on PNDs 35, 77 and 350 and were analyzed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography and biomechanical testing. At PND35, exposure to A1254 induced short, thin femur and tibia, with reduced mechanical strength of femoral neck. No treatment-related bone changes were detected in offspring at PND77 or PND350. In conclusion, the present investigation suggests that perinatal exposure to A1254 leads to shorter, thinner and weaker bones in juvenile rats at PND35, with these effects being absent at later time-points as exposure is discontinued. The results indicate that the observed bone effects are mainly driven by the dioxin-like congeners, although it cannot exclude the contribution of the non dioxin-like congeners to the exposure outcome.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, P.O. Box 210, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lubna E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Elabbas
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herlin
authors.forename: Mikko A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Finnilä
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rendel
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trossvik
authors.forename: Wayne J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuukkanen
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viluksela
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Heimeier
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akesson
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Håkansson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine) / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls