Open AccessDevelopmental exposure to the DE-71 mixture of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants induce a complex pattern of endocrine disrupting effects in rats
Author(s) -
Louise Ramhøj,
Karen Mandrup,
Ulla Hass,
Terje Svingen,
Marta Axelstad
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
peerj
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.927
H-Index - 70
ISSN - 2167-8359
DOI - 10.7717/peerj.12738
Subject(s) - offspring , polybrominated diphenyl ethers , endocrine system , anogenital distance , developmental toxicity , endocrinology , in vivo , gestation , medicine , physiology , biology , toxicity , polybrominated biphenyls , reproductive toxicity , endocrine disruptor , brominated flame retardant , pregnancy , fetus , hormone , chemistry , in utero , pollutant , fire retardant , ecology , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are legacy compounds with continued widespread human exposure. Despite this, developmental toxicity studies of DE-71, a mixture of PBDEs, are scarce and its potential for endocrine disrupting effects in vivo is not well covered. To address this knowledge gap, we carried out a developmental exposure study with DE-71. Pregnant Wistar rat dams were exposed to 0, 40 or 60 mg/kg bodyweight/day from gestation day 7 to postnatal day 16, and both sexes were examined. Developmental exposure affected a range of reproductive toxicity endpoints. Effects were seen for both male and female anogenital distances (AGD), with exposed offspring of either sex displaying around 10% shorter AGD compared to controls. Both absolute and relative prostate weights were markedly reduced in exposed male offspring, with about 40% relative to controls. DE-71 reduced mammary gland outgrowth, especially in male offspring. These developmental in vivo effects suggest a complex effect pattern involving anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and maybe estrogenic mechanisms depending on tissues and developmental stages. Irrespective of the specific underlying mechanisms, these in vivo results corroborate that DE-71 causes endocrine disrupting effects and raises concern for the effects of PBDE-exposure on human reproductive health, including any potential long-term consequences of disrupted mammary gland development.