Ovarian effects of prenatal exposure to benzo[a]pyrene: Roles of embryonic and maternal glutathione status

Reprod Toxicol. 2017 Apr:69:187-195. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.03.001. Epub 2017 Mar 6.

Abstract

Females deficient in the glutamate cysteine ligase modifier subunit (Gclm) of the rate-limiting enzyme in glutathione synthesis are more sensitive to ovarian follicle depletion and tumorigenesisby prenatal benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) exposure than Gclm+/+ mice. We investigated effects of prenatal exposure to BaP on reproductive development and ovarian mutations in Kras, a commonly mutated gene in epithelial ovarian tumors. Pregnantmice were dosed from gestational day 6.5 through 15.5 with 2mg/kg/day BaP or vehicle. Puberty onset occurred 5 days earlier in F1 daughters of all Gclm genotypes exposed to BaP compared to controls. Gclm+/- F1 daughters of Gclm+/- mothers and wildtype F1 daughters of wildtype mothers had similar depletion of ovarian follicles following prenatal exposure to BaP, suggesting that maternal Gclm genotype does not modify ovarian effects of prenatal BaP. We observed no BaP treatment or Gclm genotype related differences in ovarian Kras codon 12 mutations in F1 offspring.

Keywords: Glutathione; Kras; Mutation; Ovarian follicles; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; Puberty.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzo(a)pyrene / toxicity*
  • Female
  • Genes, ras
  • Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase / genetics*
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mutation
  • Ovary / drug effects*
  • Ovary / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*
  • Sexual Maturation / drug effects

Substances

  • Benzo(a)pyrene
  • GCLM protein, mouse
  • Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase
  • Glutathione