Reproduction Abstracts

Introduction: Aldrin and its derivative dieldrin belong to the group of chloroorganic pesticides, which due to their lipophilic properties and resistance to biodegradation are accumulated in tissues of animals and humans, and they can mimic the action of endogenous hormones.

Materials and methods: Myometrial strips and endometrial, myometrial, granulosa, and luteal cells obtained from cows on days 8–12 of the estrous cycle, were incubated with aldrin or dieldrin (0.1, 1, or 10 ng/ml) for 24 or 72 h. Next viability of cells, contractions of strips, synthesis and secretion of prostaglandins (PGF2α and PGE2) from uterine cells and oxytocin (OT), progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone secretion from ovarian cells, were determined.

Results and discussion: None of used xenobiotics affected (P>0.05) the viability of studied cells. Therefore the observed, in further experiments, dysfunction of uterine and ovarian cells, were not evoked by cytotoxic effect of aldrin and dieldrin. Both pesticides decreased (P<0.05) the basal and OT-stimulated myometrial contractions. In spite of these, they did not affect (P>0.05) the synthesis and secretion of prostaglandins from both uterine cells (P>0.05) but xenobiotics abolished the stimulatory effect of OT (P<0.05) on prostaglandin secretion from endometrium. While used pesticides stimulated (P<0.05) the secretion of OT and steroids from ovarian cells. The data show that aldrin and dieldrin, impaired the myometrial contractions in cows. It can be a result of their effect on secretory function of uterus and ovaries. This study was supported by the National Science Centre (project no. N311 082140) and the Polish Academy of Sciences.