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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Your Environment. Your Health.

Publication Detail

Title: Pre- and postnatal exposure to 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl: II. Effects on the reproductive capacity and fertilizing ability of eggs in female mice.

Authors: Huang, A; Lin, S; Inglis, R; Powell, D; Chou, K

Published In Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, (1998 Feb)

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB) on the reproductive capacity of female mice. Female C57BL/6J mice (F-0) were fed diets containing 0, 3, or 30 ppm TCB for 2 weeks before pairing with nontreated C57BL/6J males for a 10-day breeding period. Females were continued on their treatment diet throughout mating, gestation, and lactation. Female offspring (F-1) were fed the same diet as their dams throughout the study. The reproductive capacity of F-1 females was examined by mating with non-treated B6D2-F1 males. In addition, the fertilizing ability of eggs from F-1 females was examined in vitro by insemination with sperm from nontreated B6D2-F1 males. Fecundity in F-0 females after mating was 80%, 71%, and 47% in the 0, 3, and 30 ppm treatment groups, respectively. Four-day and 21-day survival indices were lower for offspring of 30 ppm TCB-treated F-0 females than for offspring of the control females. Fecundity in F-1 females was the same among all treatment groups, however, all offspring born to 3- and 30-ppm TCB-treated F-1 females died before 4 days of age. Although the litter size at birth was not affected, the in vitro fertilizing ability of eggs in the 3- and 30-ppm treatment groups was lower than in the control group. This decrease in fertilizing ability was associated with an increase in degenerated eggs. F-0 females treated with 30 ppm TCB had enlarged livers during pregnancy and lactation. At 5 and 6 weeks, liver enlargement and thymus atrophy were apparent in F-1 females exposed to 30 ppm TCB. This study demonstrated impaired reproductive capacity and decreased egg fertilizing ability in TCB-treated female mice.

PubMed ID: 9469864 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Animals; Diet; Female; Fertility/drug effects*; Fertilization/drug effects; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Ovum/drug effects*; Ovum/physiology; Polychlorinated Biphenyls/toxicity*; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects

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