Exposure of mice to benzo(a)pyrene impairs endometrial receptivity and reduces the number of implantation sites during early pregnancy.
Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. Studies have demonstrated it to be an endocrine-disrupting chemical that can cause adverse effects on the female reproductive system. However, the effect of BaP on early pregnancy has not been reported. We investigated the effect of BaP on endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. Pregnant mice were dosed with BaP at 0.2, 2 and 20 mg/kg/day from day 1 (D1) to day 5 (D5) of gestation. Exposure to BaP impaired the morphology of the endometrium and decreased the number of implantation sites (p0.2=0.006, p2=0.167, p20=0.003). Levels of estrodiol (p<0.001, for three treatment group compare with control group) and progesterone-4 in plasma were elevated in BaP-treatment groups (p0.2<0.001, p2<0.001, p20=0.032). Expression of estrogen receptor-α was up-regulated (p0.2=0.002, p2=0.131, p20=0.024) whereas expression of the progesterone receptor was down-regulated (p0.2<0.001, p2=0.064, p20=0.021). Levels of receptivity-related genes HoxA10 (p0.2<0.001, p2=0.135, p20<0.001) and E-cadherin (p0.2=0.002, p2=0.624, p20=0.137) were changed by BaP. These results revealed that BaP can disrupt the balance of estrogen and progesterone, influence expression of their receptors and downstream related genes, lead to changes in endometrium receptivity, and reduce of the number of implantation sites.
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, 400016 Chongqing, PR China.
Yi
Y
Zhao
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, 400016 Chongqing, PR China.
Xuemei
X
Chen
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, 400016 Chongqing, PR China.
Xueqing
X
Liu
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, 400016 Chongqing, PR China.
Yubin
Y
Ding
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, 400016 Chongqing, PR China.
Rufei
R
Gao
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, 400016 Chongqing, PR China.
Yiwen
Y
Qiu
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, 400016 Chongqing, PR China.
Yingxiong
Y
Wang
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Box 197, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, 400016 Chongqing, PR China. Electronic address: hejunlin_11@aliyun.com.
Junlin
J
He
D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000080905:Homeobox A10 Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011247:Pregnancy; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics
D015820:Cadherins; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D000080905:Homeobox A10 Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C092119:Hoxa10 protein, mouse; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene
Benzo(a)pyrene; Embryo implantation; Endometrial receptivity; Pregnant mice; Reproductive toxicity