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Lu YS, Wen X, Chen J, He XR, Yu J, Qiu J, Qian YZ, Xu YY. Multiomics reveals new biomarkers and mechanistic insights into the combined toxicity effects of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl and atrazine exposures in MCF-7 cells. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 333:122030. [PMID: 37336346 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Humans are constantly exposed to complicated chemical mixtures from the environment and food rather than being exposed to a single pollutant. The underlying mechanisms of the complicated combined toxicity of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are still mainly unexplored. In this study, two representative EDCs, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB153) and atrazine (ATZ), were selected to explore their combined effects on MCF-7 cell proliferation at environmental exposure concentrations by an integrated analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics. The results showed that 1 μM ATZ and PCB153 combined exposure significantly accelerated MCF-7 cell growth by 18.2%. More than 400 metabolites detected by UHPLC-QTOF/MS were used to observe metabolism differences induced by binary mixtures. Metabolomics analysis verified that ATZ and PCB153 exposure alone or in combination could have an additive effect on metabolism and induce significant disruption to glycolysis, purine metabolism and the TCA cycle, which provide energy demand and biosynthetic substrates for cell proliferation. Compared to PCB153 and ATZ exposure alone, a combined effect was observed in purine and pyrimidine metabolic pathways. Hexokinase 3 (HK3) and cytochrome P450 19 subfamily A1 (CYP19A1) were identified as differentially expressed genes based on transcriptomic analysis. By integrating metabolome and transcriptome analysis, the proliferation effects of ATZ and PCB153 were induced at low doses in MCF-7 cells through potential interference with the downstream transcription signaling of CYP19A1. Furthermore, molecular docking indicated that PCB153 and ATZ directly affected CYP19A1. Altogether, the regulation of pivotal metabolites and differentially expressed genes could provide helpful information to reveal the mechanism by which PCB153 and ATZ affect MCF-7 cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shun Lu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xing Wen
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China; Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, China
| | - Ju Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China; Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, China
| | - Xiao-Rong He
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China; Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, China
| | - Jiang Yu
- Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, China
| | - Jing Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yong-Zhong Qian
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yan-Yang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
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Duranova H, Fialkova V, Valkova V, Bilcikova J, Olexikova L, Lukac N, Massanyi P, Knazicka Z. Human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line (NCI-H295R): An in vitro screening model for the assessment of endocrine disruptors' actions on steroidogenesis with an emphasis on cell ultrastructural features. Acta Histochem 2022; 124:151912. [PMID: 35661985 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2022.151912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cell lines as an in vitro model for xenobiotic screening and toxicity studies provide a very important tool in the field of scientific research at the level of molecular pathways and gene expression. Good cell culture practice and intracellular characterization, as well as physiological properties of the cell line are of critical importance for in vitro reproductive toxicity testing of various endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The NCI-H295R, human adrenocarcinoma cell line, is the most widely used in vitro cellular system to study the human adrenal steroidogenic pathway at the level of hormone production and gene expression, as it expresses genes that encode for all the key enzymes for steroidogenesis. In this review, we aim to highlight the information considering the origin, development, physiological and ultrastructural characteristics of the NCI-H295R cell line. The review also creates a broad overview of the cell line usage in various range of studies related to the steroidogenesis issues. To our best knowledge, the paper provides the first report of quantitative data (ex novo) from stereological estimates of component (volume, surface) densities of nuclei, mitochondria, and lipid droplets of the NCI-H295R cells. Such ultrastructural measurements can be valuable in the assessment of underlying mechanisms of changes in the cell steroid hormone production induced by the action of diverse endocrine disruptors. Thus, they can significantly contribute to complexity of structure-function relationships in association with steroidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Duranova
- AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic.
| | - Veronika Fialkova
- AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic.
| | - Veronika Valkova
- AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic.
| | - Jana Bilcikova
- AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic.
| | - Lucia Olexikova
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics and Reproduction, NPPC - Research Institute for Animal Production in Nitra, Hlohovecká 2, 951 41 Lužianky, Slovak Republic.
| | - Norbert Lukac
- Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic.
| | - Peter Massanyi
- Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic.
| | - Zuzana Knazicka
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic.
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Lu YS, Yang SL, Gou CL, Wang XL, Wen X, He XR, Guo XX, Xu YY, Yu J, Qiu J, Qian YZ. Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis reveals new biomarkers and mechanistic insights on atrazine exposures in MCF‑7 cells. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 232:113244. [PMID: 35093817 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Atrazine (ATZ) is a widely used herbicide worldwide and is a long-suspected endocrine-disrupting chemical. However, most endocrine-disrupting toxicity studies on ATZ have been based on animal models and those investigating inner mechanisms have only focused on a few genes. Therefore, the possible link between ATZ and endocrine-disrupting toxicity is still unclear. In this study, multi-omics and molecular biology techniques were used to elucidate the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of ATZ exposure on MCF-7 proliferation at environmentally relevant concentrations. Our study is the first report on ATZ-induced one carbon pool by folate metabolic disorder in MCF-7 cells. A concentration of 1 μM ATZ yielded the highest cell viability and was selected for further mechanistic studies. A total of 34 significantly changed metabolites were identified based on metabolomic analysis, including vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, and corresponding derivatives. Folate and pyridoxal have potential as biomarkers of ATZ exposure. One carbon pool by folate metabolic pathway was identified based on metabolic pathway analysis of the significantly altered pathways. Moreover, FTCD and MTHFD related to this pathway were further identified based on transcriptomic analysis and protein assays. Folate and different forms of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate, which participate in purine synthesis and associate with methyl groups (SOPC, arachidonic acid, and L-tryptophan) in one carbon pool by the folate metabolic pathway, potentially promote MCF-7 cell proliferation. These findings on the key metabolites and regulation of the related differentially expressed genes in folate metabolism will shed light on the mechanism of MCF-7 cell proliferation after ATZ exposure. Overall, this study provides new insights into the mechanistic understanding of toxicity caused by endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shun Lu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, China
| | - Shang-Lin Yang
- Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Chun-Lin Gou
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products of NingXia, Yinchuan 750002, China
| | - Xin-Lu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xing Wen
- Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Xiao-Rong He
- Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Xiao-Xuan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yan-Yang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Jiang Yu
- Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Jing Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yong-Zhong Qian
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
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Tóth G, Háhn J, Radó J, Szalai DA, Kriszt B, Szoboszlay S. Cytotoxicity and hormonal activity of glyphosate-based herbicides. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 265:115027. [PMID: 32806452 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are the most widely used pesticides for weed control. In parallel with the renewal of the active ingredient, polyethoxylated POE(15) containing GBHs were banned in the EU in 2016. Since then, co-formulants were changed and numerous GBHs are marketed with different excipients declared as inert substances. In our study, we focused to determine acute and chronic cytotoxicity (by Aliivibrio fischeri assay) and direct hormonal activity (estrogenic and androgenic effects measured by Saccharomyces cerevisiae BLYES/BLYAS strains, respectively) of glyphosate, AMPA, polyethoxylated POE(15) and 13 GBHs from which 11 formulations do not contain polyethoxylated POE(15). Among the pure substances, neither glyphosate nor AMPA had any effects, while polyethoxylated POE(15) exhibited pronounced toxicity and was also estrogenic but not androgenic. Regarding the acute and chronic cytotoxicity and hormonal activity of GBHs, dilution percentages calculated from EC50 values were in the most cases by one or two order of magnitude lower than the minimum recommended dilution for agricultural and household use. Relation could not be observed between the biological effects and type of glyphosate-salts; hence toxicity could be linked to the co-formulants, which are not even declared in 3 GBHs. Toxicological evaluation must focus on these substances and free accessibility of GBHs should be reconsidered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergő Tóth
- Szent István University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Environmental Protection and Safety, 1 Páter Károly Street, Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary.
| | - Judit Háhn
- Szent István University, Regional University Centre of Excellence, 1 Páter Károly Street, Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary.
| | - Júlia Radó
- Szent István University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Environmental Protection and Safety, 1 Páter Károly Street, Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary.
| | - Diána A Szalai
- Szent István University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Environmental Protection and Safety, 1 Páter Károly Street, Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary
| | - Balázs Kriszt
- Szent István University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Environmental Protection and Safety, 1 Páter Károly Street, Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary.
| | - Sándor Szoboszlay
- Szent István University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Environmental Protection and Safety, 1 Páter Károly Street, Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary.
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Duan C, Fang Y, Sun J, Li Z, Wang Q, Bai J, Peng H, Liang J, Gao Z. Effects of fast food packaging plasticizers and their metabolites on steroid hormone synthesis in H295R cells. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 726:138500. [PMID: 32334352 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The health risks of exposure to plasticizers have received widespread attention, however, little is known about the effects of fast food packaging plasticizers on steroid hormone synthesis. In the present study, the types and migration of plasticizers in some commonly used fast-food packaging materials were detected by GC-MS, and the interference effects of these plasticizers and their metabolites on steroid hormone synthesis in the human body were evaluated by the H295R steroidogenesis assay. The GC-MS results showed that the main plasticizer compounds that migrated from fast food packaging into food were di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA). Exposure to these chemicals (100-1000 μM) can significantly reduce the viability of H295R cells in a dose-response manner, and these plasticizers and their metabolites that migrated into oily foods at high temperatures (0.25-25 μM) could significantly increase the E2 level and reduce the T level in H295R cells. According to the qRT-PCR data, 0.25 to 25 μM mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) significantly upregulated the expression levels of 17β-HSD1 and CYP19A1, and downregulated those of CYP17A1, CYP11A1 and StAR. The Western blot results were consistent with those of qRT-PCR. In summary, these results indicated that even exposure to low concentrations (≤1 mg/l or 2.5 μM) of these chemicals and their metabolites can cause significant endocrine-disrupting effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhui Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 30045, China; Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Yanjun Fang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Jingran Sun
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Zhenxin Li
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Qiangqiang Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Jialei Bai
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Hui Peng
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Jun Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 30045, China.
| | - Zhixian Gao
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China.
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Warner GR, Mourikes VE, Neff AM, Brehm E, Flaws JA. Mechanisms of action of agrochemicals acting as endocrine disrupting chemicals. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 502:110680. [PMID: 31838026 PMCID: PMC6942667 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Agrochemicals represent a significant class of endocrine disrupting chemicals that humans and animals around the world are exposed to constantly. Agrochemicals can act as endocrine disrupting chemicals through a variety of mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that several mechanisms of action involve the ability of agrochemicals to mimic the interaction of endogenous hormones with nuclear receptors such as estrogen receptors, androgen receptors, peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, and thyroid hormone receptors. Further, studies indicate that agrochemicals can exert toxicity through non-nuclear receptor-mediated mechanisms of action. Such non-genomic mechanisms of action include interference with peptide, steroid, or amino acid hormone response, synthesis and degradation as well as epigenetic changes (DNA methylation and histone modifications). This review summarizes the major mechanisms of action by which agrochemicals target the endocrine system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genoa R Warner
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61802, IL, United States
| | - Vasiliki E Mourikes
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61802, IL, United States
| | - Alison M Neff
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61802, IL, United States
| | - Emily Brehm
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61802, IL, United States
| | - Jodi A Flaws
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61802, IL, United States.
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Persistent testicular structural and functional alterations after exposure of adult rats to atrazine. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 73:201-213. [PMID: 28847621 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Atrazine is an endocrine disruptor affecting testicular steroidogenesis, and promoting testicular atrophy and 3β-HSD reduction. However, it remains unknown whether these effects are reversible or permanent. To address this issue was the aim of this study. Exposition of rats to 200mg/kg of atrazine resulted in transient increase in testicular weight, seminiferous tubules dilation and atrophy, and reduction in Leydig cell 3β-HSD. Testicular atrophy and 3β-HSD reduction were more pronounced after the recovery period of 75days. There was increase in aromatase expression after long-term exposure but it returned to control level after recovery. Moreover, there was increase in ED1-/ED2+, ED1+/ED2+ and ED1+/ED2- macrophages, in the recovery group. These macrophages were positive for 3β-HSD, thereby raising possibility of their involvement in steroidogenesis. These findings further emphasize the adverse effects of atrazine on male reproduction, highlighting that testicular damages may be irreversible even after a recovery period longer than the spermatogenic cycle.
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Foradori CD, Zimmerman AD, Coder PS, Peachee VL, Handa RJ, Kimber I, Pruett SB, Breckenridge CB. Lack of immunotoxic effects of repeated exposure to atrazine associated with the adaptation of adrenal gland activation. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2017; 89:200-214. [PMID: 28736286 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
T cell-dependent IgM antibody production and natural killer cell (NKC) activity were assessed in SD rats orally administered atrazine for 28 days to males (0, 6.5, 25, or 100 mg/kg/day) or females (0, 3, 6, or 50 mg/kg/day), or 30 or 500 ppm in diet (3 or 51 mg/kg/day). Anti-asialo GM1 antibodies (NKC) and cyclophosphamide (antibody-forming cell assay [AFC]) served as positive controls. Pituitary (ACTH, prolactin), adrenal (corticosterone, progesterone, aldosterone), and gonadal (androgens, estrogens) hormones were assessed after 1, 7, and/or 28 days of treatment. Food intake and body weights were significantly reduced in the highest dosed males, and transiently affected in females. Urinary corticosterone levels were not increased in atrazine-treated groups in either sex at any time point measured (10, 22, or 24 days). Corticosterone and progesterone were elevated in males after a single atrazine dose ≥6.5 mg/kg/day, but not after 7, 14, or 28 doses. There were no effects on adrenal, pituitary, or gonadal hormones in females. Atrazine did not suppress the AFC response or decrease NKC function after 28 days in males or females. Atrazine had no effect on spleen weights or spleen cell numbers in males or females, although thymus weights were elevated in males receiving the highest dose. The lack of immunotoxic effect of atrazine was associated with diminished adrenal activation over time in males, and no effects on adrenal hormones in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad D Foradori
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Arthur D Zimmerman
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Pragati S Coder
- Charles River Laboratories Ashland LLC, Ashland, OH, United States
| | | | - Robert J Handa
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Ian Kimber
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Stephen B Pruett
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, MS, United States
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