Study of Neonatal Exposure to Estrogenic and Androgenic Endocrine Disruptors by Normal-Phase HPLC

Neonatal exposure to estrogenic and androgenic endocrine disruptors induces developmental abnormalities in the female reproductive system. To investigate whether neonatal exposure affects oogenesis in juvenile and pubertal ovary, Sprague-Dawley rat pups were given estrogen or various endocrine disruptors by a single injection on the day of birth at concentrations ranging between 2 mM to 40 mM, and sacrificed on day 21 (juvenile) or 50 (puberty). The ovaries were weighed and examined histologically at each stage. Further, 17β-estradiol synthesis of oogenesis was analyzed using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Neonatal exposure to 17 β-estradiol, diethylstilbestrol and estrogen receptor inhibitors significantly reduced ovary weights, although estrogen receptor inhibitors were completely restored by 17 β-estradiol synthesis during puberty.