Acute Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyl-Containing and -Free Transformer Fluids on Rat Testicular Steroidogenesis

Maternal concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls and dichlorodiphenyl dichlorethylene and birth weight in Michigan fish eaters: a cohort study

“…Our results may indicate a threshold effect, since there is no discernible decrease in birth weight below a maternal PCB concentration of less than 25 μg / L. Assuming an endocrine mode of interference of PCB, a threshold effect is plausible since PCB may hamper the binding of hormones to their receptors [52]. It is possible that the location of the threshold level depends upon smoking, nutrients in fish, and other confounders.…”

Parallelism and dissociation in the actions of an Aroclor 1260-based transformer fluid on testicular androgenesis and antioxidant enzymes

“…Earlier studies shown that intratesticular (itt)-treatment with A1254, a PCB mixture containing about 40% of mono-ortho congeners and 0.03-0.2% of planar congener PCB 77 (Frame et al, 1996), inhibited the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) 72 h after itt-injection (Andric et al, 2002). Our preliminary results also suggested that Pyralene administration changes the activity of several AOEs in rat testis (Andric et al, 2003), whereas the potential actions of this transformer fluid on AOE systems in liver and other tissues have not been analyzed.…”

“…It is suggested that these xenobiotics affect gonadal functions by altering steroid hormone production and metabolism, acting as agonists for steroid hormone receptors, and/or changing the level of receptor expression. Our previous studies also indicated a strong inhibition of testicular steroidogenesis 24 h after in vivo exposure to Aroclor 1248 and an Aroclor 1260-based transformer fluid (known as Pyralene) (Andric et al, 2000a(Andric et al, ,b, 2001. The mechanism by which Aroclors, the compounds of our primary interest, and other PCBs inhibit steroid hormone production has not been clarified.…”

The toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyl (Aroclor 1242) on Tm3 Leydig cells

“…Previous studies have suggested that PCBs inhibit reproductive functions and ability, cause developmental abnormalities (Aly et al, 2016; Cai et al, 2011, 2013, 2015; Kim, 2001; Kovacevic et al, 1995; Sager, 1983; Sager et al, 1987, 1991; Wakui et al, 2007; Yamamoto et al, 2005), and disrupt the endocrine system (Apostoli et al, 2003) by decreasing testosterone synthesis and steroidogenic enzyme activity in Leydig and Sertoli cells (Fiandanese et al, 2016; Murugesan et al, 2005a, 2005b, 2007a, 2008; Priya et al, 2016; Sridhar et al, 2004). A number of in vitro studies of PCBs’ effects on Leydig cells have shown a direct relationship between sperm formation in testes, reproductive success, and reduced testosterone production (Andric et al, 2000a, 2000b; Johansson, 1989; Kovacevic et al, 1995; Murugesan et al, 2007b; Murugesan et al, 2008).…”