Endocrine disruptors are a broad class of toxicants with the ability to alter and/or interfere with normal endocrine signaling. The perinatal period is particularly vulnerable to endocrine disruption, as a number of critical endocrine processes regulate aspects of gonadal development. In this thesis, two different endocrine disrupting chemicals- mono-2-ethylhexyl-phthalate, MEHP, and bisphenol A, BPA, were examined for their ability to alter perinatal ovarian development. The first aim of this thesis assessed the reproductive effects on the adult F1 female generation following exposure to 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg MEHP during late gestation. We found that F1 females exposed to high doses of MEHP exhibit alterations in both fertility and endocrine function. The second of this thesis aim assessed the effects of BPA on neonatal mouse ovaries in an ex vivo ovarian culture model. We found that moderate to high doses of bisphenol A alter ovarian follicular survival and follicular recruitment signaling pathways. This thesis concludes that the neonatal period is a critical toxicological window in which exposure to endocrine disruptoring chemicals can result in lifelong alterations to the female reproductive tract.
Moyer, Benjamin James,
"Perinatal Endocrine Disruption in the Female: Multiple Latent Effects Throughout Murine Life"
(2012).
Pathobiology Theses and Dissertations.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://doi.org/10.7301/Z0P55KS7
