title: The effect of n-hexane on the gonad toxicity of female mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the toxic effects of n-hexane on the Ganod of female mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  n-Hexane was administered to four groups of mice by inhalation at doses of 0, 3.0, 15.1, and 75.8 mL/m3 respectivelyfor five weeks. Each group consisted of 10 mice, of which half were injected in first with 10 IU of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) on the 33rd days, and then with 10 IU of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) 48 hrs later. After the treatment, mouse sera were sampled and ovulating hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassays (ECLIA). In each group, the right ovaries of the non-super-ovulated mice were stained with hematoxylin and eosin while ovaries on the left side were prepared with the TUNEL method in order to detect apoptotic cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The duration of the diestrus stage decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the 75.8 mL/m3 group. All super-ovulated mice in each treatment group produced fewer eggs than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The number of follicles in ovaries in the 75.8 mL/m3 group was smaller compared with the control group (P < 0.05).The serum P4 levels in each treatment group were lower than those in the control group (F = 6.196, P < 0.01). The cell apoptotic rate in the 75.8 mL/m3 group was higher (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  n-Hexane may have directly mediated via alterations hormone secretion and promoted granulosal cell apoptotic, which may be one of the important mechanisms for n-hexane induced mouse ovary impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hui Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Wen Chang
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006586:Hexanes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D051379:Mice; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006586:Hexanes; C026385:n-hexane