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Endocrine disruption in adolescence: immunologic, hematologic, and bone effects in monkeys
Mari S Golub1, Casey E Hogrefe, Stacey L Germann
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA. msgolub@ucdavis.edu
Summary
Environmental estrogens like diethylstilbestrol (DES) disrupt pubertal development, affecting immune, blood, and bone health in monkeys. Methoxychlor (MXC) showed fewer effects, suggesting varying risks from endocrine disruptors.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Toxicology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Environmental contaminants with estrogenic properties can interfere with normal pubertal development.
- Estrogen influences not only the reproductive system but also other developing systems, including immune, hematologic, and bone mass.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of peripubertal exposure to estrogenic agents, methoxychlor (MXC) and diethylstilbestrol (DES), on immune, hematologic, and bone mass parameters in female rhesus monkeys.
- To compare the impact of DES and MXC on various physiological systems during a critical developmental window.
Main Methods:
- Female rhesus monkeys were treated with MXC (25 and 50 mg/kg/day) or DES (0.5 mg/kg/day) during the peripubertal period.
- Comprehensive assessments included complete blood count (CBC), clinical chemistry, lymphocyte populations, and bone mass measurements after a 9-month recovery period.
Main Results:
- DES significantly altered hematocrit, hemoglobin, serum albumin, liver transaminases, and lipids.
- DES exposure led to decreased circulating lymphocytes (especially B cells) and altered T-cell maturation.
- Bone mass and length were significantly reduced in the DES group, with a trend toward reduced bone mass in the MXC50 group.
Conclusions:
- Diethylstilbestrol (DES) demonstrated significant adverse effects on immunohematology and bone growth during peripubertal development in rhesus monkeys.
- Methoxychlor (MXC) influenced fewer parameters, indicating a potentially lower risk compared to DES at the tested doses.
- Disruption of these systems during puberty may increase adolescent and adult risks for anemia, infectious diseases, osteoporosis, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders.