Acetaminophen (APAP, Paracetamol) Interferes With the First Trimester Human Fetal Ovary Development in an Ex Vivo Model

Context Acetaminophen (APAP, paracetamol) is widely used by pregnant women. Although long considered safe, growing evidence indicates that APAP is an endocrine disruptor since in utero exposure may be associated with a higher risk of male genital tract abnormalities. In rodents, fetal exposure has long-term effects on the reproductive function of female offspring. Human studies have also suggested harmful APAP exposure effects. Objective Given that disruption of fetal ovarian development may impact women’s reproductive health, we investigated the effects of APAP on fetal human ovaries in culture. Design and Setting Human ovarian fragments from 284 fetuses aged 7 to 12 developmental weeks (DW) were cultivated ex vivo for 7 days in the presence of human-relevant concentrations of APAP (10−8 to 10−3 M) or vehicle control. Main Outcome Measures Outcomes included examination of postculture tissue morphology, cell viability, apoptosis, and quantification of hormones, APAP, and APAP metabolites in conditioned culture media. Results APAP reduced the total cell number specifically in 10- to 12-DW ovaries, induced cell death, and decreased KI67-positive cell density independently of fetal age. APAP targeted subpopulations of germ cells and disrupted human fetal ovarian steroidogenesis, without affecting prostaglandin or inhibin B production. Human fetal ovaries were able to metabolize APAP. Conclusions Our data indicate that APAP can impact first trimester human fetal ovarian development, especially during a 10- to 12-DW window of heightened sensitivity. Overall, APAP behaves as an endocrine disruptor in the fetal human ovary.