Superfund Research Program
Studies of the Alterations in Estrogen Metabolism Caused by Exposure to PCBs
Project Leader: David C. Spink
Grant Number: P42ES004913
Funding Period: 1995 - 2000
Project-Specific Links
- Project Summary
Project Summary (1995-2000)
The long-term objective of this project is to determine the effects of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the phase I and phase II metabolism of 17b-estradiol (E2) in liver and extrahepatic tissues. Human exposure to PCBs may result in diverse endpoints such as impairment of intellectual development and reduced fertility. Specific aims are to determine the effects of exposure to PCBs on the rate of cytochrome P450-catalyzed hydroxylation of E2, on the phase II metabolism of E2 by determination of estrogen glucuronosyltransferase and estrogen sulfotransferase activities, and on the expression of cytochrome P450s of the CYP1A and the recently discovered CYP1B gene subfamilies.