Effects of peripubertal exposure to triphenyltin on female sexual development of the rat

• Published in: Toxicology (Amsterdam) 2006-05, Vol.222 (1), p.17-24
• Main Authors: Grote, Konstanze, Andrade, Anderson J.M., Grande, Simone Wichert, Kuriyama, Sergio N., Talsness, Chris E., Appel, Klaus E., Chahoud, Ibrahim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Aromatase; Aromatase - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay; Brain - drug effects; Brain - enzymology; Brain - growth & development; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Endocrine disruption; Endocrine Disruptors - toxicity; Estradiol - blood; Female; Fungicides, Industrial - toxicity; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Organ Size; Organotin Compounds - toxicity; Ovary - drug effects; Ovary - enzymology; Ovary - growth & development; Progesterone - blood; Puberty; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reproduction; Sexual Development - drug effects; Toxicology; Triphenyltin chloride; Vagina - drug effects; Vagina - growth & development
• ISSN: 0300-483X; 1879-3185
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2006.01.008

Triphenyltin (TPT) belongs to the group of organotin compounds which have been shown to affect reproduction in mammals. It is used as a fungicide and antifouling agent and the main source of human exposure is via food. We studied the effects of 2 or 6 mg TPT/kg bw on female sexual development using a modification of the Rodent 20-Day Thyroid/Pubertal Female Assay. Moreover, the effect of TPT before the onset of puberty was investigated. Beginning at postnatal day (PND) 23 female Wistar rats were treated per gavage until either PND 33 or the first estrus after PND 53. A delay in the completion of vaginal opening (VO) was observed in the 6 mg TPT group, while the 2 mg TPT group showed advanced VO. Significantly increased ovarian weights were observed in both treatment groups. Steroid hormone levels and ovarian aromatase activity were affected after exposure to 6 mg TPT/kg bw, while treatment with 2 mg TPT/kg bw resulted in minor changes of these endpoints. We conclude that peripubertal exposure to 6 mg TPT/kg bw, and to a lesser extent to 2 mg TPT/kg bw, affects female sexual development.