Reilly Michael P, Saca James C, Hamilton Alina, Solano Rene F, Rivera Jesse R, Whitehouse-Innis Wendy, Parsons Jason G, Dearth Robert K
Department of Biology, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1021 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA.
Edinburg Regional Academic Health Center (E-RAHC), University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Medical Research Division, 1214 West Schunior Street, Edinburg, TX 78541, USA.
Reprod Toxicol. 2014 Apr;44:41-9. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2013.09.005. Epub 2013 Sep 30.
Arsenic (As) is a prevalent environmental toxin readily accessible for human consumption and has been identified as an endocrine disruptor. However, it is not known what impact As has on female sexual maturation. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of prepubertal exposure on mammary gland development and pubertal onset in female rats. Results showed that prepubertal exposure to 10 mg/kg of arsenite (As(III)) delayed vaginal opening (VO) and prepubertal mammary gland maturation. We determined that As accumulates in the liver, disrupts hepatocyte function and suppresses serum levels of the puberty related hormone insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in prepubertal animals. Overall, this is the first study to show that prepubertal exposure to As(III) acts peripherally to suppress circulating levels of IGF-1 resulting in delayed sexual maturation. Furthermore, this study identifies a critical window of increased susceptibility to As(III) that may have a lasting impact on female reproductive function.
砷（As）是一种普遍存在的环境毒素，很容易被人类摄入，并且已被确定为一种内分泌干扰物。然而，目前尚不清楚砷对女性性成熟有何影响。因此，在本研究中，我们调查了青春期前暴露对雌性大鼠乳腺发育和青春期开始的影响。结果表明，青春期前暴露于10 mg/kg的亚砷酸盐（As(III)）会延迟阴道开口（VO）和青春期前乳腺成熟。我们确定砷在肝脏中积累，破坏肝细胞功能，并抑制青春期前动物血清中与青春期相关的激素胰岛素样生长因子1（IGF-1）的水平。总体而言，这是第一项表明青春期前暴露于As(III)会在周围发挥作用，抑制IGF-1的循环水平，从而导致性成熟延迟的研究。此外，本研究确定了对As(III)易感性增加的关键窗口期，这可能会对女性生殖功能产生持久影响。
