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Judith M. Bergeron,¹ David Crews,¹ and John A. McLachlan²

¹Department of Zoology, Institute of Reproductive Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
²National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread, low-level environmental pollutants associated with adverse health effects such as immune suppression and teratogenicity. There is increasing evidence that some PCB compounds are capable of disrupting reproductive and endocrine function in fish, birds, and mammals, including humans, particularly during development. Research on the mechanism through which these compounds act to alter reproductive function indicates estrogenic activity, whereby the compounds may be altering sexual differentiation. Here we demonstrate the estrogenic effect of some PCBs by reversing gonadal sex in a reptile species that exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination. Key words: biomarker, environmental estrogens, gonadal sex, PCBs, sexual differentiation, temperature-dependent sex determination. Environ Health Perspect 102:780-781 (1994)

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1994/102-9/bergeron.html

Address correspondence to J. M. Bergeron, Department of Zoology, Institute of Reproductive Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA.

We acknowledge the technical assistance of A. Alexander, T. Cole, H. Nguyen, and J. O'Brien, and J. Branch for graphics. This research was supported by a National Science Foundation predoctoral fellowship to J.M.B. and National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Award 00135 to D.C.

Received 10 March 1994 ; accepted 27 June 1994.