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 (Muta^TM 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.