Oocyte destruction by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is not linked to the inducibility of ovarian aryl hydrocarbon (benzo(a)pyrene) hydroxylase activity in (DBA/2N X C57BL/6N) F1 X DBA/2N backcross mice.

The role of the Ah locus and ovarian aryl hydrocarbon (benzo(a)pyrene) hydroxylase activity (AHH, EC 1.14.14.

Reduction in oocyte number following prenatal exposure to a diet high in galactose.

When pregnant rats were fed a 50 percent galactose diet there was a striking reduction in oocyte number in the offspring. The most prominent effects were noted after exposure to galactose during the premeiotic stages of oogenesis. Prenatal exposure to galactose or its metabolites may contribute to the premature ovarian failure characteristic of human galactosemia.

The effects of cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and 6-mercaptopurine on oocyte and follicle number in C57BL/6N mice.

Cyclophosphamide, azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine were studied for oocyte and follicle toxicity in a murine ovarian toxicity assay system. Seven days after a single treatment with cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg ip), 63% of the primordial follicles and 0% of the growing or large follicles and their oocytes were destroyed in four week old C57BL/6N mice. Treatment with azathioprine (100 mg/kg/day ip x 9 days) or 6-mercaptopurine (100 mg/kg/day ip x 9 days) suppressed weight gain and increased mortality but had no effect on the number of oocytes or follicles in these mice.

The effect of benzo(a)pyrene on fertility, primordial oocyte number, and ovarian response to pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) benzo(a)pyrene (BP) reduced the fertility of DBA/2N mice in a dose-dependent fashion. Control mice produced offspring at a rate of 0.91 pups/mouse per week.

Degeneration of mouse oocytes in response to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Destruction of mouse oocytes in primordial and small primary follicles in response to treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) was studied at the ultrastructural level. Four-week old C57Bl/6N (B6) strain mice received a single injection of 80 mg/Kg MC in corn oil intraperitoneally. Controls received only corn oil.

Smoking and industrial pollution, and their effects on menopause and ovarian cancer.

The rodent ovary contains an enzyme system(s) capable of metabolising poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to reactive electrophilic intermediates known to cause cytotoxicity, mutation, and cancer. If the human ovary contains similar enzyme systems, metabolic activation of environmental chemicals could explain the earlier menopause in cigarette smokers and the higher incidence of ovarian cancer in industrialised areas.