子宫实验和E-SCREEN实验在检测雌激素活性中的相关性

目的　以 1 7β 雌二醇 (1 7β E2 )和四种植物提取物为受试物 ,研究子宫实验和E SCREEN实验在检测雌激素活性中的相关性。方法　断乳雌性小鼠 (1 0～ 1 2g)按体重分为 6组 ,分别给予小茴香、山豆根、补骨脂和川牛膝提取物 (1 0g kgBW ,ig)、1 7β E2 (0 5mg kgBW ,sc)和蒸馏水 (ig) ,持续 9天后处死动物剥离子宫称重。分别在人类乳腺癌MCF 7细胞培养液中加入四种植物提取物 (终浓度 1 0mg L)和 1 7β E2 (终浓度0 3μmol L) ,计算各组细胞在 1 2 0h内的平均群体倍增时间 ,分析小鼠子宫重量与细胞群体倍增时间的相关性。结果　 4种植物提取物均可使小鼠子宫重量增加 (P <0 0 5或P <0 0 1 ) ,细胞群体倍增时间缩短。子宫重量与群体倍增时间呈显著负相关 (r=- 0 96 7,P <0 0 1 )。结论　子宫实验和E SCREEN实验结果在检测雌激素活性物质时具有一致性     

In vitro estrogenic and antiestrogenic potential of chlorostyrenes

Chlorostyrenes (CSs) are primarily derived from industrial by-products and are persistent and accumulative in the environment. In this study, the estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities of CSs (o-CS, m-CS, p-CS, DiCS, octa-CS) were evaluated using in vitro bioassays. o-CS and octa-CS have both estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity in the E-SCREEN assay and the ERE-reporter gene assay, indicating effects on a classical ER-mediated pathway. m-CS showed estrogenic activity in E-SCREEN but not in ERE-reporter gene assays, indicating that it may work through a non-classical ER-mediated pathway. Finally, DiCS only showed antiestrogenic activity via an ER-independent pathway, which can be induced by depletion of endogenous E₂ level by the inhibition of aromatase activity and the stimulation of E₂ metabolism. Although CSs have structural similarities to dioxins/furans, they did not have AhR agonist effects. This study is the first to show the estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity of several CSs using in vitro bioassay systems, including whether the compounds work via ER-mediated or/and non-ER-mediated pathways.     

Assessment of styrene oligomers eluted from polystyrene-made food containers for estrogenic effects in in vitro assays

Recently, several substances from among the huge numbers of chemicals used by mankind have been implicated as instigators of disrupted endocrine function and related human health problems. Polystyrene (PS) is one of the most frequently used resins in the world, and the styrene oligomer dissolved out from PS has been designated as a potential trigger of estrogen-like activity in the Wingspread Declaration and the Japan Environment Agency's SPEED98 [JEA (Japan Environment Agency) Strategic Problem on Environmental Endocrine Disruptors '98 (SPEED) '98), http://www.env.go.jp/en/pol/speed98/sp98.html]. In order to assess the endocrine disrupting effect of styrene oligomers, we tested one styrene monomer (SM), three styrene dimers (SDs) and seven styrene trimers (STs), newly isolated from optical isomers, known to dissolve in small amounts from cup noodle containers made of polystyrene by the estrogen receptor binding assay, luciferase reporter gene assay, and human breast cancer cell MCF-7 proliferation assay. In all three tests, none of the SM, SDs and STs showed any significant activity. Accordingly, we concluded that these substances have no estrogenic activity.     

The implementation of a battery of in vivo and in vitro bioassays to assess river water for estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals

Previous research has shown that accurate evaluation of environmental water samples for estrogenic activity requires a panel of in vitro and in vivo bioassays, which are based on different molecular and cellular action mechanisms. In the current study, a test battery containing four assays was used to analyze water from the Eerste River, South Africa for estrogenicity. Three sites were used for analysis, namely Jonkershoek (control site situated in the mountains at the origin of the Eerste River), sewage effluent from Stellenbosch sewage treatment works and Spier site (sampling site on the Eerste River downstream from Stellenbosch). Estrogenicity was determined using an estrone enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), estrogen induced proliferation of human breast cancer adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) also known as the E-SCREEN, estrogen induced suppression of estrogen receptor alpha protein expression (ER-α) in MCF-7 cells (ERα assay) and by monitoring estrogen induced vitellogenin (VTG) synthesis in juvenile Oreochromis mossambicus (VTG assay). Low concentrations of estrone (ranging between 1.4 and 2.2 ng/l) near the detection limit of the assay were detected in samples collected from Jonkershoek. Water from this site shows no estrogenicity in the E-SCREEN, ERα assay or VTG synthesis bioassay. The estrone concentrations in the sewage effluent extracts, as well as Spier site extracts, ranged between 14.7 and 19.4 ng/l. The assays using ERα induction by the MCF-7 cell line, MCF-7 proliferation and in vivo VTG synthesis by juvenile tilapia showed that these samples are estrogenic. The results obtained for the assays in the battery are comparable.