title: Effects of perinatal ethinyl estradiol exposure in male and female Wistar rats.
abstract: Perinatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals with estrogenic activity can adversely affect reproductive development, but few studies evaluating estrogen-sensitive endpoints have been performed in Wistar rats. Therefore, time-mated Wistar rats (n=10) were gavaged during gestation and lactation with 0, 5, 15 or 50μg/kg bw/day of ethinyl estradiol. This potent estrogen was found to induce an increased number of nipples and reduced ovary weight in female offspring. Malformations of female genitalia were found in young as well as adult offspring, as an increased AGD was seen at birth and a deeper urethral slit length was seen in adulthood. In prepubertal male offspring, estrogen-regulated gene expression in ventral prostate was increased dose-dependently and a decreased ventral prostate weight was seen at 15μg/kg. Female external sexual characteristics and prostate development were found to be targets for exposure to estrogenic compounds and may be of interest in studies on estrogenic environmental compounds.
authors.affiliation: Division of Toxicology and Risk Assessment, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Mørkhøj Bygade 19, 2860 Søborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Karen Riiber
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Mandrup
authors.forename: Pernille Rosenskjold
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Louise Krag
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Isling
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Axelstad
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dreisig
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hadrup
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vinggaard
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hass
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boberg
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000002:abnormalities; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009558:Nipples / Q000002:abnormalities; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014521:Urethra / Q000002:abnormalities; D014621:Vagina / Q000002:abnormalities
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol
keywords: Anogenital distance; Endocrine disruption; Estrogen; Gene expression; Genital malformations; Mammary gland; Nipples; Onset of puberty