[Effect of in utero and lactational exposure to a binary mixture of 3,3',4,4', 5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) and 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) on reproductive function in male rat offsprings].
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of in utero and lactational exposure to a binary mixture of 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) and 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) on reproductive function in male rat offsprings.


METHODS
Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were given the mixture by gavage with 0.096, 0.96, 4.8 microg toxic equivalency (TEQ)/kg on gestational day (GD) 15. The effects of mixture on F1 rats were observed.


RESULTS
The male offspring in the 0.96 and 4.8 microg TEQ/kg groups showed significant inhibition of body weight gain, anogenital distance (AGD) and sperm counts. Mixtures at 4.8 microg TEQ/kg significantly reduced weights of accessory sex organs, but only prostate weight reduced at 0.96 microg TEQ/kg. There were no significant differences on serum testosterone.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrated that in utero and lactational exposure to the mixtures of PCB126 and PCB118 affected development of male offspring and impaired adult male offspring reproductive organs.
Institute of Hygiene, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou 310013, China. xucm@zjams.com.cn
Chengmin
C
Xu
Jianrong
J
Chai
Yaling
Y
Qian
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects
C070055:2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C023035:3,4,5,3',4'-pentachlorobiphenyl