Reproductive effects of Hexachlorobenzene in female rats

LAURA ÁLVAREZ; ANDREA RANDI; PAULA ÁLVAREZ; GERARDO PIROLI; ASTRID CHAMSON-REIG; VICTORIA LUX-LANTOS; DIANA KLEIMAN DE PISAREV

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

Lugar: LOndres; Año: 2000 vol. 20 p. 81 - 87

0260-437X

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon widely distributed in the environment. In animal testing, HCB has been shown to be a reproductive toxin. Previous investigations of the effects of HCB on ovarian function have yielded equivocal results. Thus, the effects of chronic administration of HCB (1 g kg21 body wt.) on the ovary and pituitary hormone levels, hepatic and uterine oestradiol receptors, ovarian histopathological changes and oestrus cycle characteristics were investigated in spontaneously cycling rats. Our data demonstrate that HCB treatment, under the conditions of the present study, reduced circulating levels of oestradiol and prolactin without differences in serum concentrations of progesterone. Follicle-stimulating hormone serum levels were elevated. Hexachlorobenzene treatment resulted in irregularity of cycles, characterized mainly as prolonged periods of oestrus with a reduced number of ova recovered. In addition, HCB administration resulted in significantly decreased uterine nuclear oestrogen receptor levels. Histopathological examination revealed degenerative changes of the ovarian follicles and germinal epithelium and increased numbers of atresic follicles.