In Utero and Lactational Exposures to Low Doses of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether-47 Alter the Reproductive System and Thyroid Gland of Female Rat Offspring

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.10536
• Publication Date: 2007-12-03T15:55:18Z
• Authors: Chris E. Talsness; Sergio N. Kuriyama; Anja Sterner-Kock; Petra Schnitker; Simone Wichert Gr...; Mehdi Shakibaei; Anderson Andrade; Konstanze Grote; Ibrahim Chahoud
• Keywords: Estradiol; Research; Reproduction; Body Weight; Ovary; Polybrominated Biphenyls; Thyroid Gland; Genitalia, Female; Organ Size; 01 natural sciences; Rats; 3. Good health; Aromatase; Maternal Exposure; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; Animals; Lactation; Female; Rats, Wistar; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are capable of disrupting thyroid hormone homeostasis. PBDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) is one of the most abundant congeners found in human breast adipose tissue and maternal milk samples.We evaluated the effects of developmental exposure to low doses of PBDE-47 on the female reproductive system.Pregnant Wistar rats were administered vehicle (peanut oil) or PBDE-47 [140 or 700 microg/kg body weight (bw)] on gestation day (GD) 6, or 5 mg 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)/L in the drinking water from GD7 through postnatal day (PND) 21.In female offspring sacrificed on PND38, there was a significant decrease in ovarian weight after exposure to PTU or 140 microg/kg PBDE-47. Alterations in folliculogenesis were apparent: we observed a decrease in tertiary follicles and serum estradiol concentrations in the offspring exposed to either PTU or 700 microg/kg PBDE-47. PTU exposure also resulted in a decrease in primordial follicles. On PND100, persistent effects on the thyroid glands included histologic and morphometric changes after exposure to either PTU or PBDE-47. No relevant changes in reproductive indices were observed after mating the exposed F1 females with nontreated males.Administration of PBDE-47 at doses relevant to human exposure led to changes in the rat female reproductive system and thyroid gland.