Benzo(A)pyrene (BaP) treatment results in complete infertility in female pigeons

Conference · Mon Mar 11 04:00:00 EST 1991 · FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); (United States)

OSTI ID:5751761

Hough, J L; Darrow, D; Eaton, J; Baird, M B ^[1]

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1. Masonic Medical Research Lab., Utica, NY (United States)

BaP is a carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and a common environmental pollutant. Show Racer and White Carneau female pigeons injected weekly with BaP for 3 for 5 months were completely infertile, with ovaries appearing necrotic or oxidized. Fertility in benzo(e)pyrene (BeP, a noncarcinogenic PAH) treated birds was the same as for corn oil treated controls, as was embryo development. Thus, infertility in BaP treated birds appears to be related to its structure-carcinogenic potential. There was no readily apparent affect of BaP treatment on testes from male birds. In order to determine whether BaP metabolites covalently bind to DNA in the ovaries of these birds, pigeons were injected with BaP or BeP, controls were injected with corn oil. Animals were sacrificed 24h later, the ovaries or testes removed, and the DNA isolated and analyzed for PAH-DNA adducts by {sup 32}P-post labeling assay. One major and one minor PAH-DNA adduct was found in ovaries and testes from BaP treated birds. However, no PAH adducts were found in BeP treated or control animals. Thus, problems with fertility may arise because of the alteration in DNA by BaP metabolite binding in ovaries where rapid cell growth occurs during egg production.

• OSTI ID: 5751761
• Report Number(s): CONF-9104107--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); (United States) Journal Volume: 5:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADDUCTS
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BENZOPYRENE
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOSYNTHESIS
BIRDS
BODY
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DNA ADDUCTS
FEMALE GENITALS
FERTILITY
GONADS
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MALE GENITALS
METABOLISM
METABOLITES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OVARIES
PHOSPHORUS 32
PHOSPHORUS ISOTOPES
PIGEONS
RADIOISOTOPES
REPRODUCTION
SYNTHESIS
TESTES
TOXICITY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES