An assessment of mutagenic effect of 3, 3', 4, 4', 5 pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) in muta mouse fetuses

Abstract

PCBs are persistent environmental agents that induce multiple impairments in living beings. In this study we used a transgenic mouse model (MutaTM Mouse), carrying bacterial lacZ genes for mutation assays and for assessment of the genotoxic effect of PCB126 on fetal mice. Mothers of experimental groups were subjected to a single oral dose of PCB126 (125, 250 and 500 μg/kg) on the 10th day of pregnancy, respectively. Fetuses were autopsied on the 18th day of gestation. Cleft palate was observed in 2 out of 11 fetuses from 3 litters in 500 μg/kg treated group. Other external malformations were not observed. The DNA mutation frequencies (MF) of fetuses in each group were 1.15 ± 0.24 × 10-5, 0.90 ± 0.20 × 10-5 and 1.08 ± 0.24 × 10-5 in fetuses of 125, 250 and 500 μg/kg treated groups, respectively. The MF of controls was 0.81 ± 0.22 × 10-5. There were no significant differences among the groups. However, the MF of each treated group was a little highter than that of control group. Possible relationships between PCB and its mutagenic effects in the offspring of mice are discussed.