Effects of Perinatal Exposure to the TAML Activator NT7 on Hormone-Sensitive Outcomes in the Female Mouse

Presenter

Elise Pierce

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Laura N. Vandenberg, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C23, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 3 (C21-C30) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Tetra-amido macrocyclic ligands (TAML) are novel chemical catalysts designed to remediate endocrine disrupting chemicals from the environment by degrading chemicals in water when activated with hydrogen peroxide. This study aims to determine if exposure to the “New TAML” activator NT7 alters hormone sensitive outcomes in the morphology or histology of the mouse mammary gland, consistent with an endocrine disrupting effect. Mice and their offspring were exposed to one of three doses of NT7 or one of two positive controls, ethinyl estradiol, a known estrogenic chemical, and flutamide, an antiandrogen. Exposures occurred orally through drinking water. Organ weights were assessed as a measure of general toxicity and reproductive organs were weighed to indicate endocrine sensitive outcomes. Morphological effects on whole mount mammary glands in the F1 generation were assessed using Zen Pro imaging software. Histological and immunohistochemical tests, such as toluidine blue staining for mast cell identification, TUNEL analysis for apoptosis, and immunohistochemistry for Ki67 and ERα were completed on pre-pubertal F1 mammary gland tissues to assess additional mammary growth parameters. Analysis revealed several morphological outcomes in the terminal end buds (TEBs) of the pre-pubertal mammary gland were significantly decreased in the mid-NT7 group, though histological analyses revealed no cellular differences in the epithelium at PND21. TAML activators are a promising development for their ability to remediate EDCs in water. However, it is important to determine if these chemicals have hormonal effects themselves. Our results suggest perinatal exposure to NT7 may alter the growth of epithelial structures in the pre-pubertal mammary gland.

Keywords

endocrine disruption, mammary gland, environmental health

Research Area

Public Health and Epidemiology

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