Abstract:
Objectives To observe the adverse effects of nonylphenol (NP) exposure during pregnancy and lactation on TNF-α and IL-1β in the adrenal glands of pups and the change of their serum hormone levels.
Methods Thirty two pregnant rats were randomly divided according to the time of conception into a control group and three exposure groups (low, middle and high dose group), and were exposed to NP through digestive tract at the dose of 0, 25, 50 and 100 mg/(kg·d), respectively, started from the 6th day after conception and ended at the 21th of stopping lactation. The expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in the adrenal gland of rat pups at 21d and 60d after birth was detected by immunohistochemical method, the association between NP exposure with the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β was analyzed, and the change of serum hormone level was also observed.
Results In comparison with the offspring in control group, the integrated optical density (IOD) for TNF-α and IL-1β in the adrenal gland of 3 exposure groups at 21d and 60d after birth were higher(F=44265.850; 96.191and 428.759; 1519.815, P < 0.05). The dose and time of NP exposure were associated with the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in a dose-response manner. The levels of serum testosterone decreased with higher dose of NP exposure, and estradiol increased with higher dose of NP exposure.
Conclusions Exposure to NP during gestation might induce an increased expression of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β) in the adrenal glands of pup rats. Inflammatory reaction might have an injury mechanism on the adrenal glands of pup rats exposed to NP during gestation. The injury of adrenal gland might lead to adrenal dysfunction and, in turn, affect the serum hormone level in pups.
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