title: Effects of sub-chronic aluminum chloride exposure on rat ovaries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This experiment investigated the effects of sub-chronic aluminum chloride (AlCl3) exposure on rat ovaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty female Wistar (5weeks old) rats, weighed 110-120g, were randomly divided into four treatment groups: control group (CG), low-dose group (LG, 64mg/kg BW AlCl3), mid-dose group (MG, 128mg/kg BW AlCl3) and high-dose group (HG, 256mg/kg BW AlCl3). The AlCl3 was administered in drinking water for 120days. The ovarian ultrastructure was observed. The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase, the contents of Fe, Cu and Zn, and the protein expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) in the ovary were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the structure of the ovary was disrupted, the activities of ALP, ACP, SDH, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase, the contents of Zn, Fe and the protein expression of FSHR and LHR were lowered, and the content of Cu was increased in AlCl3-treated rats than those in control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that sub-chronic AlCl3 exposure caused the damage of the ovarian structure, the disturbed metabolism of Fe, Zn and Cu and the decreased activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase in the ovary, which could result in suppressed energy supply in the ovary. A combination of suppression of energy supply and reduction of expression of FSHR and LHR could inhibit ovulation and corpus luteum development, leading to infertility in female rats.
authors: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Fu
authors: Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department, Liaoning Agricultural College, Liaoning 115009, China.
authors: F B
authors: FB
authors: Jia
authors: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Song
authors: School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Liu
authors: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China. Electronic address: yanfeili200@126.com.
authors: Y F
authors: YF
authors: Li
authors: Weike Biotechnology Development Company, Harbin 150069, China.
authors: S Z
authors: SZ
authors: Liu
authors: Veterinary Health And Epidemic Prevention Station, The Forest Industry Region of Heilongjiang, Harbin 150008, China.
authors: Q W
authors: QW
authors: Bu
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000077410:Aluminum Chloride; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002712:Chlorides / Q000633:toxicity*; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000139:chemically induced; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000378:metabolism; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D002712:Chlorides; D011962:Receptors, FSH; D011974:Receptors, LH; D000077410:Aluminum Chloride; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Energy supply; Female rats; Ovary; Reproduction function; Trace minerals