Epidemiological data suggest an association between exposures to bromodichloromethane (BDCM), a trihalomethane found in drinking water as a result of drinking water disinfection, and an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. We previously hypothesized that BDCM targets the placenta and showed that the secretion of chorionic gonadotrophin (CG) was reduced in primary cultures of human term syncytiotrophoblasts exposed to BDCM. In the present study we extend this observation by evaluating the effects of BDCM on the morphological differentiation of mononucleated cytotrophoblast cells to multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast-like colonies. Addition of BDCM to cytotrophoblast cultures inhibited the subsequent formation of multinucleated colonies in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by immunocytochemical staining for desmosomes and nuclei. The effect was seen at BDCM concentrations between 0.02 and 2 mM and was confirmed by quantitative image analysis. Secretion of bioactive and immunoreactive chorionic gonadotropin was also significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner under these culture conditions, and cellular levels of CG were also reduced. Trophoblast viability was not compromised by exposure to BDCM. We conclude that BDCM disrupts syncytiotrophoblast formation and inhibits CG secretion in vitro. Although other tissue targets are not ruled out, these data substantiate the idea that BDCM targets the placenta and could have implications for understanding the adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with BDCM exposure in humans.

Bromodichloromethane (BDCM), a trihalomethane, is a by-product of the chlorination of drinking water. In a recent epidemiological study, consumption of BDCM was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion in pregnant women. We have previously shown that BDCM causes pregnancy loss, i.e., full-litter resorption (FLR), in the F344 rat. The mode of action was investigated, with three main findings. First, there was a dramatic difference in sensitivity between F344 and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat strains. Following aqueous gavage treatment on gestational days (GD) 6-10, F344 rats had a 62% incidence of FLR at 75 mg/kg/day, whereas all SD rats maintained their litters. Second, the critical period encompassed the luteinizing hormone (LH)-dependent period of pregnancy. Rats treated on GD 6-10 at 75 mg/kg/day had a 75% incidence of FLR, but rats treated on GD 11-15 at 75 or 100 mg/kg/day were unaffected. Third, 24 h after a single dose, all dams with FLR had markedly reduced serum progesterone levels; however, LH levels were unaffected. The high FLR rate during the LH-dependent period, the lack of response thereafter, and the reduced progesterone levels without an associated reduction in LH levels suggests that BDCM disrupts luteal responsiveness to LH.

Previously, we demonstrated that bromodichloromethane (BDCM), a drinking water disinfection by-product, causes pregnancy loss in F344 rats when given on gestational days (GD) 6-10, encompassing the luteinizing hormone (LH)-dependent period of pregnancy (GD 7-10). Pregnancy loss, i.e., full-litter resorption, was associated with reduced serum progesterone levels; however, we were unable to identify an effect on serum LH. Here, we reevaluated serum LH levels using the more sensitive technique, DELFIA(R). We further sought to better define the temporal pattern of endocrine disruption caused by BDCM during pregnancy with more frequent sampling. Lastly, we attempted to prevent BDCM-induced pregnancy loss using exogenous progesterone or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), an LH-agonist. BDCM, in 10% Alkamuls(R), was dosed at 75 mg/kg/day by gavage to F344 rats on GD 6-10 (plug day = GD 0). BDCM-induced pregnancy loss was associated with marked reductions in serum progesterone and LH on GD 10. The decrease in serum LH consistently preceded the decrease in progesterone. In the hormone replacement studies, BDCM and progesterone were administered on GD 6-10, hCG on GD 8-10. BDCM was delivered at 100 mg/kg/day, progesterone at 10 mg/kg twice daily, and hCG at 0.5 IU/0.2 ml/rat. Both progesterone and hCG prevented BDCM-induced pregnancy loss. Thus, BDCM-induced pregnancy loss was associated with marked GD-10 reductions in serum LH and corresponding decreases in progesterone. Furthermore, coadministration of an LH agonist prevented pregnancy loss, supporting the hypothesis that BDCM-induced pregnancy loss in the rat occurs via an LH-mediated mode of action.

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