Plasma testosterone in fetal rats and their mothers on day 19 of gestation

Houtsmuller, Elisabeth J.; Jong, Frank H. de; Rowland, David L.; Slob, A. Koos

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(94)00291-c

Cited by 31 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…This study also showed that the anogenital distance was significantly longer in both males and females in the exhaust-exposed groups and that maternal testosterone levels were higher in the exhaustexposed groups than in the control group. The testosterone levels of both male and female fetuses are correlated with the levels of maternal testosterone (25). Although we did not measure serum testosterone levels of fetuses in these experiments, it seems reasonable to speculate that the elevated serum levels of testosterone in exhaust-exposed rats were responsible for the increased anogenital distance in fetuses from the exhaust-exposed groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…There was no such difference in the control group ( Figure 8). Testosterone levels in female fetuses with males located caudally in the uterus were higher than those in females not so positioned because of the transport of steroids between fetuses (23,25,49,50). Testosterone levels from male fetuses were also affected by the presence of females (51)(52)(53).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Nitric oxide also produces inhibitory effects on the expression and activity of aromatase in human granulosa cells (20,21). Transport of endogenous sex steroids produced in the process of physiological differentiation from one fetus to another might be one of the other factors that disrupts fetal differentiation and neonate development (22)(23)(24)(25). Excessive steroid hormones, of both exogenous and endogenous origin, are toxic in the early steps of T-cell differentiation (26)(27)(28)(29).…”

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confidence: 99%

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The masculinization of the fetus during pregnancy due to inhalation of diesel exhaust.

Watanabe¹,

Kurita²

2001

Environ Health Perspect

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This study was conducted to determine the impact of diesel exhaust inhalation on the fetus. Seventy-two pregnant rats and 18 nonpregnant rats were divided into three groups: a group exposed to total diesel engine exhaust containing 5.63 mg/m(3) particulate matter, 4.10 ppm nitrogen dioxide, and 8.10 ppm nitrogen oxide; a group exposed to filtered exhaust without particulate matter; and a group exposed to clean air. The exposure period was from day 7 until day 20 of pregnancy. In addition, 15 pregnant rats were treated with aromatase inhibitors or testosterone to clarify the process by which diesel exhaust exerts its toxicity. The anogenital distance was significantly longer in male and female fetuses from both exhaust-exposed groups than in those of the control. Differentiation of the testis, ovary, and thymus was delayed and disturbed. Maternal testosterone and progesterone levels, which increased due to pregnancy whether or not the rats were exposed, were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in the pregnant rats exposed to total exhaust and filtered exhaust. The serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level and urinary excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (OHCS) did not differ among the pregnant groups. These results indicate that elevated testosterone did not result from elevated maternal adrenal function. The feto-placental-ovarian unit and inhibition of aromatase activity and synthesis caused by diesel exhaust inhalation might have played an essential role in the accumulation of testosterone. Since both exhaust-exposed groups showed almost the same reactions toward the inhalation, the gaseous phase must have included the relevant toxicants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The masculinization of the fetus during pregnancy due to inhalation of diesel exhaust.

Watanabe¹,

Kurita²

2001

Environ Health Perspect

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“…Quantitative examination of androgens in fetal rats shows that males and females have similar androgen content during much of gestation (Baum et al 1991;Weisz and Ward 1980). However, concentrations of androgens in males increase significantly late in gestation (Baum et al 1991;Houtsmuller et al 1995;vom Saal and Bronson 1980;Weisz and Ward 1980), reaching a peak around the critical developmental window of GDs 18-19 (Baum et al 1991). Several studies have suggested that this brief exposure to elevated androgens late in gestation sensitizes the developing male to androgen exposure during the neonatal period (Baum et al 1990;Hoepfner and Ward 1988;Tobet and Baum 1987).…”

Section: Natural Variation In Androgen Concentrations During Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, potential variation in prenatal testosterone may interact with or alter the sensitivity to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). However, even during this critical window, developing female fetuses have significant testosterone concentrations in many different tissues, including those critical for the developing reproductive system (Baum et al 1991;Houtsmuller et al 1995;Weisz and Ward 1980). In several cases, individual female concentrations of testosterone are within the range experienced by males (Hotchkiss et al 2000;Weisz and Ward 1980).…”

Section: Natural Variation In Androgen Concentrations During Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Androgens and environmental antiandrogens affect reproductive development and play behavior in the Sprague-Dawley rat.

Hotchkiss

Ostby

VanDenburgh

et al. 2002

Environ Health Perspect

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In mammals, exposure to androgens early in development is essential for masculinization of the male reproductive phenotype. Male fetuses exposed to antiandrogens during perinatal life are permanently demasculinized in their morphology and physiology, whereas exposure to exogenous androgens permanently masculinizes females. In some litter-bearing species, proximity in utero of females to males can partially masculinize female siblings and alter their responsiveness to endocrine-disrupting compounds. However, in our strain of rat (CD-SD Charles River), intrauterine position does not significantly influence testosterone concentrations and anogenital distance of fetuses. In comparison, administration of testosterone propionate to pregnant females, at doses that doubled fetal female testosterone levels, did masculinize the reproductive system. Discovery of androgen-active chemicals in the environment has placed increased emphasis on describing the reproductive and behavioral effects of both natural and environmental androgens and antiandrogens. Recently, the effects of an antiandrogen, vinclozolin, on the brain and behavior were cited as a special concern by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in its risk assessment of this pesticide. In rats, one such behavior that is perinatally organized by androgens is social play. Males play more than females, and administration of exogenous androgens during the neonatal period alters the juvenile expression of this sexually dimorphic behavior. Vinclozolin is an androgen receptor antagonist that inhibits androgen-dependent tissue growth in vivo. We were interested in whether developmental exposure to vinclozolin could also alter androgen-dependent behaviors such as play. Neonatal male rats were injected on postnatal days (PNDs) 2 and 3 with corn oil, the pharmacologic antiandrogen flutamide (50 mg/kg), or vinclozolin (200 mg/kg). On PNDs 36-37 animals were observed for social play. Behaviors associated with general social activity such as sniffing and dorsal contact were unaffected by treatment. However, play behavior in males treated with flutamide or vinclozolin was significantly reduced, resembling levels of play characteristic of females rather than untreated males. Therefore, this study demonstrates that perinatal exposure to vinclozolin, an environmental antiandrogen, can alter androgen-dependent play behavior in the male rat.

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The size of the splenium of the rat corpus callosum: Influence of hormones, sex ratio, and neonatal cryoanesthesia

Nuñez

Juraska

1998

Dev. Psychobiol.

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Plasma testosterone in fetal rats and their mothers on day 19 of gestation

Cited by 31 publications

References 38 publications

The masculinization of the fetus during pregnancy due to inhalation of diesel exhaust.

The masculinization of the fetus during pregnancy due to inhalation of diesel exhaust.

Androgens and environmental antiandrogens affect reproductive development and play behavior in the Sprague-Dawley rat.

The size of the splenium of the rat corpus callosum: Influence of hormones, sex ratio, and neonatal cryoanesthesia

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