title: Atrazine triggers developmental abnormality of ovary and oviduct in quails (Coturnix Coturnix coturnix) via disruption of hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis.
abstract: There has been a gradual increase in production and consumption of atrazine (ATR) in agriculture to meet the population rising demands. Female reproduction is necessary for growth and maintenance of population. However, ATR impact on females and particularly ovarian developmental toxicity is less clear. The aim of this study was to define the pathways by which ATR exerted toxic effects on ovarian development of ovary and hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis. Female quails were dosed by oral gavage from sexual immaturity to maturity with 0, 50, 250 and 500 mg ATR/kg/d for 45 days. ATR had no effect on mortality but depressed feed intake and growth and influenced the biochemical parameters. Notably, the arrested development of ovaries and oviducts were observed in ATR-exposed quails. The circulating concentrations of E2, P, LH and PRL were unregulated and FSH and T was downregulated in ATR-treated quails. The mRNA expression of GnRH in hypothalamo and LH in pituitary and FSH in ovary was downregulated significantly by ATR exposure and FSH and PRL in pituitary were upregulated. ATR exposure upregulated the level of P450scc, P450arom, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD in ovary and downregulated ERβ expression in female quails. However, ATR did not change ERα expression in ovary. This study provides new insights regarding female productive toxicology of ATR exposure. Ovary and oviduct in sexually maturing females were target organs of ATR-induced developmental toxicity. We propose that ATR-induced developmental abnormality of ovary and oviduct is associated with disruption of gonadal hormone balance and HPO axis in female quails.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, PR China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, PR China.
authors.forename: Zheng-Hai
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, PR China.
authors.forename: Shi-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, PR China.
authors.forename: Xue-Nan
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Research Insitiute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, PR China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, PR China.
authors.forename: Jing-Ao
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, PR China. Electronic address: Jinlongli@neau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jin-Long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Resources & Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, PR China. Electronic address: zhangyinghr@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001280:Atrazine / Q000633:toxicity*; D001835:Body Weight; D003370:Coturnix / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D042341:Gonadal Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000187:drug effects; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D010057:Oviducts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D042341:Gonadal Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D001280:Atrazine
keywords: Atrazine; Endocrine disrupter; Hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis; Ovarian and oviduct developmental abnormality; Quail