Chad R. Blystone

Cumulative and Antagonistic Effects of a Mixture of the Antiandrogens Vinclozolin and Iprodione in the Pubertal Male Rat

Vinclozolin and iprodione are dicarboximide fungicides that display antiandrogenic effects in the male rat, which suggests that a mixture would lead to cumulative effects on androgen-sensitive end points. Iprodione is a steroid synthesis inhibitor, but androgen receptor antagonist activity, which is displayed by vinclozolin, has not been fully evaluated. Here, we demonstrate that iprodione binds to the human androgen receptor (IC(50) = 86.0 microM), reduces androgen-dependent gene expression, and reduces androgen-sensitive tissue weights in castrated male rats (Hershberger assay). Since vinclozolin and iprodione affect common targets in the pubertal male rat, we tested the hypothesis that a mixture would have cumulative antiandrogenic effects. An iprodione dose, that does not significantly affect androgen-dependent morphological end points, was combined with vinclozolin doses (2 x 5 factorial design). Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed by gavage with vinclozolin at 0, 10, 30, 60, and 100 mg/kg/day with and without 50 mg iprodione/kg/day from postnatal day (PND) 23 to 55-57 (n = 8 per group). The age at puberty (preputial separation [PPS]), organ weights, serum hormones, and ex vivo testis steroid hormone production were measured. Vinclozolin delayed PPS, reduced androgen-sensitive organ weights, and increased serum testosterone. The addition of iprodione enhanced the vinclozolin inhibition of PPS (PND 47.5 vs.49.1; two-way ANOVA: iprodione main effect p = 0.0002). The dose response for several reproductive and nonreproductive organ weights was affected in a cumulative manner. In contrast, iprodione antagonized the vinclozolin-induced increase in serum testosterone. These results demonstrate that these fungicides interact on common targets in a tissue-specific manner when coadministered to the pubertal male rat.

In utero exposure to an AR antagonist plus an inhibitor of fetal testosterone synthesis induces cumulative effects on F1 male rats

Risk assessments are typically conducted on a chemical-by-chemical basis; however, many regulatory bodies are developing frameworks for assessing the cumulative risk of chemical mixtures of chemicals. The current investigation examined how chemicals that disrupt rat sex differentiation via two diverse mechanisms disrupt F1 male rat reproductive development, when administered together orally on days 14-18 of gestation. Experiment 1 used a mixture of 50 mg/kg-d procymidone and 500 mg/kg-d dibutyl phthalate (DBP), whereas experiment 2 used 150 mg/kg-d procymidone and 1125 mg/kg-d DBP (top dose), or 0, 4.17, 8.33, 16.7, 33.3, 50, 66.7, and 83.3% of the top dose. When we compared the dose and response addition predictions to the observed effects we found that dose addition models were more accurate than response addition models, indicating that compounds that act by different mechanisms of toxicity produce cumulative dose-additive effects.

High throughput adjustable 96-well plate assay for androgen receptor binding: a practical approach for EDC screening using the chimpanzee AR.

The issue as to whether natural and man-made chemicals interfere with endocrine function has raised concerns. This interference could be biologically significant even at very low doses if the chemicals interact deleteriously with hormone receptors at low concentrations. Therefore, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Office of Coordination and Policy (OSCP) requested that a nonhuman mammalian androgen receptor binding assay be developed for possible use in their Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). Ideally, this assay would be high throughput, not use animals as a source of receptor protein, easily deployed throughout the scientific community, utilize reagents available to both the public and private sector, and have the potential for future automation. We developed a highly modified 96-well plate assay which meets these criteria. It employs a baculovirus expressed recombinant primate androgen receptor which is publically available and exploits the unique ability of some mammalian androgen receptors to remain biologically active after guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) solubilization. This GdnHCl treated receptor remains soluble and requires no additional purification prior to use. We provide a very detailed description of the assay protocol itself, and similarly detailed method for producing and solubilizing the receptor.

A Black Cohosh Extract Causes Hematologic and Biochemical Changes Consistent with a Functional Cobalamin Deficiency in Female B6C3F1/N Mice

Black cohosh rhizome, available as a dietary supplement, is most commonly marketed as a remedy for dysmenorrhea and menopausal symptoms. A previous subchronic toxicity study of black cohosh dried ethanolic extract (BCE) in female mice revealed a dose-dependent ineffective erythropoiesis with a macrocytosis consistent with the condition known as megaloblastic anemia. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential mechanisms by which BCE induces these particular hematological changes. B6C3F1/N female mice (32/group) were exposed by gavage to vehicle or 1,000 mg/kg BCE for 92 days. Blood samples were analyzed for hematology, renal and hepatic clinical chemistry, serum folate and cobalamin, red blood cell (RBC) folate, and plasma homocysteine and methylmalonic acid (MMA). Folate levels were measured in liver and kidney. Hematological changes included decreased RBC count; increased mean corpuscular volume; and decreased reticulocyte, white blood cell, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts. Blood smear evaluation revealed increased Howell–Jolly bodies and occasional basophilic stippling in treated animals. Plasma homocysteine and MMA concentrations were increased in treated animals. Under the conditions of our study, BCE administration caused hematological and clinical chemistry changes consistent with a functional cobalamin, and possibly folate, deficiency. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism by which BCE causes increases in homocysteine and MMA.