Ovulatory response of chlordecone (Kepone)-exposed mice to exogenous gonadotropins

The present study assessed the ability of the murine ovary to ovulate in response to exogenous gonadotropins following exposure to an estrogenic pesticide chlordecone (Kepone). Sexually mature virgin female CD-1 mice were exposed by oral gavage to either 0.062 mg, 0.125 mg or 0.25 mg (2, 4 or 8 mg/kg, respectively) chlordecone for 5 consecutive days for 2, 4, or 6 weeks. Control groups received either 0.1 mg estradiol-17 beta (E-17 beta) or the sesame oil vehicle for the same period. During the final week of exposure all experimental and control animals were treated with a superovulatory regimen of PMSG and hCG. The results revealed that the lower 2 chlordecone doses (0.062 and 0.125 mg) had highly variable effects on the ovulatory responses. The highest chlordecone dose (0.25 mg), however, produced a significant and progressive decrease in the ovulatory responses when compared to both E-17 beta and vehicle controls. Since ovulation was progressively impeded in mice exposed to 0.25 mg chlordecone, this high chemical dose may have exerted a direct effect on the ovary since sufficient exogenous gonadotropins were available to stimulate ovulation.