Evaluation of sodium arsenite exposure on reproductive competence in pregnant and postlactational dams and their offspring.

BOURGUIGNON NS; BONAVENTURA, M. M.; RODRIGUEZ D; BIZZOZZERO MARIANNE; VENTURA C; NUÑEZ M; LUX LANTOS V; LIBERTUN CARLOS

REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY (ELMSFORD, N.Y.)

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2017 vol. 69 p. 1 - 12

0890-6238

We investigated arsenite exposure on the reproductive axis of dams (during pregnancy and at cyclicity resumption) and their offspring. Pregnant rats were exposed to 5 (A5) or 50ppm (A50) of sodium arsenite in drinking water from gestational day 1 (GD1) until sacrifice at GD18 or two months postpartum. Offspring were exposed to the same treatment as their mothers from weaning to adulthood. A50-pregnant rats gained less weight, showed increased testosterone and estradiol but pregnancy was unaffected. After lactation, arsenic-exposed dams presented compromised cyclicity, decreased estradiol, increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), less preovulatory follicles and presence of ovarian cysts, suggesting impaired reproduction. A50-offspring presented lower body weight; A50-female-offspring showed elevated gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), FSH and testosterone, while A50-males showed diminished GnRH/FSH, but normal testosterone. We conclude that arsenite at the present exposure levels did not compromise pregnancy outcome while it negatively affected reproductive physiology in postpartum dams and their offspring.