The Effects of Perinatal Exposures to Propylparaben on the Development and Morphology of the Mammary Gland in Female Mice in Early Adulthood

Presenter

Hana Rosemary Power

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

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

Schedule

Session 4, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C31, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 4 (C31-C40) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Parabens are chemicals known to have endocrine disrupting effects. They are used as antimicrobial agents and are commonly found in foods, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. Propylparaben is an estrogen receptor (ER) agonist; it can mimic estradiol and induce unintended effects in tissues expressing the ER including the mammary gland. Further research has proposed that propylparaben, due to its estrogenic properties, could be associated with increased risk of breast cancer and it has been detected in cancerous breast tissues. Prior work from our lab found that exposure to propylparaben during pregnancy and lactation resulted in significant alterations in mammary gland morphology and development in mice after involution occurred. In this study, we have evaluated the offspring (at 9-weeks of age) to determine if propylparaben exposures during perinatal development alter mammary gland morphology and development. To determine alterations in morphology, we collected whole mount mammary glands and quantified three epithelial structures using unbiased stereology methods: ducts, terminal ends, and alveolar buds. In other fixed mammary gland samples, we utilized several histological stains to measure volume fraction of ductal epithelium, periductal collagen thickness, and quantification of mast cells (degranulating and total). Lastly, we used immunohistochemistry to quantify the percentage of cells positive for ER alpha or Ki-67, a marker of proliferation. Our results have revealed that propylparaben changes some features of the mammary gland and suggest that the perinatal period is a sensitive window for the mammary gland to propylparaben exposures.

Keywords

endocrine disrupting chemicals , ER alpha or Ki-67, perinatal development, periductal collagen thickness, estrogen receptor agonist

Research Area

Public Health and Epidemiology

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