Exposure to chemical cocktails before or after conception – The effect of timing on ovarian development

Michelle Bellingham,Maria R Amezaga,Beatrice Mandon-Pepin,Christopher J.B Speers,Carol E Kyle,Neil P Evans,Richard M Sharpe,Corinne Cotinot,Stewart M Rhind,Paul A Fowler

doi:10.1016/j.mce.2013.06.016

Abstract

Exposure of female fetuses to environmental chemicals (ECs) during pregnancy results in a disturbed ovarian adult phenotype. We investigated the influence of pre- and/or post-conception exposure to low-level mixtures of ECs on the structure and function of the fetal ovine ovary. We examined ovarian morphology, expression of oocyte and granulosa cell-specific genes and proteome. Female fetuses were collected at day 110 of gestation, from dams exposed continuously until, and after mating, by grazing in pastures treated with sewage sludge as a fertiliser (TT) or in control fields treated with inorganic fertiliser (CC). In addition, in a cross-over design, fetal ovaries were collected from dams maintained on sludge pastures up to the time of mating but then transferred to control pastures (TC) and, reciprocally, those transferred from control to treated pastures at mating (CT). On examination, the proportion of type 1a follicles (activating primordial follicles) was significantly lower in animals from the CT groups compared with CC and TT groups (P<0.05). Of the 23 ovarian gene transcripts studied, 14 were altered in the ovaries of exposed fetuses (CT, TC, and TT) relative to controls, with the largest number of changes observed in cross-exposure pattern groups (CT or TC). Continuous EC exposure (TT) produced fewer transcript alterations and only two genes (INHBA and GSN) presented differential profiles between CC and TT. Fetal ovarian proteome analysis (2-DE gels) showed, across all exposure groups, 86 differentially expressed protein spots compared to controls. Animals in the CT group exhibited the highest number (53) while TC and TT presented the same number of affected protein spots (42). Fetal ovarian proteins with altered expression included MVP (major vault protein) and several members of the heat-shock family (HSPA4L, HSP90AA1 and HSF1). The present findings indicate that continuous maternal EC exposure before and during gestation, are less deleterious for fetal ovarian development than a change in maternal EC exposure between pre and post-conception. The pathways by which the ovary responds to this chemical stress were common in TT, CT, TC exposed foetuses. In addition to the period of pregnancy, the pre-conception period appears also as crucial for conditioning long-term effects of EC exposure on ovarian development and primordial follicle reserve and hence future fertility.

Highlights

Environmental chemicals (ECs), including endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), adversely affect multiple physiological systems in a wide range of animal species (Colborn et al, 1993; Fowler et al, 2012; Magnusson, 2012; Rhind, 2005)
The present findings indicate that continuous maternal EC exposure before and during gestation, are less deleterious for fetal ovarian development than a change in maternal EC exposure between pre and post-conception
The present paper reports the results of extensive investigations into effects of maternal exposure to sludge-treated pastures on fetal ovarian physiology, in three exposure groups and a control group maintained on sludge free pasture throughout life outlined above

Summary

Introduction

Environmental chemicals (ECs), including endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), adversely affect multiple physiological systems in a wide range of animal species (Colborn et al, 1993; Fowler et al, 2012; Magnusson, 2012; Rhind, 2005). Using sheep as an experimental model and sewage sludge applications to pasture as a means of exposing them to environmental levels of a mixture of ECs, the relationships between ‘‘everyday’’, background EC exposure, associated tissue chemical burdens and physiological status have begun to be addressed These studies have shown that small increases in tissue concentrations of selected ECs (Rhind, 2002, Rhind et al, 2005), were associated with perturbations of hypothalamopituitary (Bellingham et al, 2009, 2010; Rhind et al, 2010a) testicular (Bellingham et al, 2012; Paul et al, 2005) and ovarian physiology (Fowler et al, 2008) in the offspring of sludge-exposed mothers. The sensitivity of a fetus to ECs may differ depending on the time/stage of development

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Conclusion