Effect of atrazine on levels of serum sex hormone in healthy female mice and its significance

Objective To observe the changes of the levels of serum sex hormones in mice treated with atrazine(ATR),and to evaluate the effect of ATR on sex hormone related diseases.Methods 32healthy female C57mice were randomly divided into control group and 5,25,and 125mg·kg-1 ATR groups;there were 8mice in each group.The mice in control group were given olive oil by gavage,and the mice in the other groups were given 5,25,and 125mg·kg-1 ATR once per day for 28d.The serum of mice were collected.The levels of serum sex hormones were detected by radioimmunoassay,and HE staining was used to observe the morphology of ovarian tissue of the mice in each group.Results Compared with control group,the levels of estradiol(E2)and testosterone(T)were significantly increased(P0.05)in 25and 125mg·kg-1 ATR groups,and the levels of E2and T were increased with the increasing of ATR dose.Compared with control group,the levels of luteinizing hormone(LH)and follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)were significantly decreased(P0.05or P0.01)in 25and 125mg·kg-1 groups,especially in 125 mg·kg-1 group(P0.01).The levels of progesterone(P)and prolactin(PRL)had no significant differences between each group(P0.05).Compared with control group,the proportions of the development follicles were reduced in 25and 125mg·kg-1 ATR groups,and the proportions of the large atretic follicles were increased,especially in 125mg·kg-1 ATR group.Conclusion ATR may increase the levels of serum E2and T and decrease the secretion of LH and FSH in order to interfer of the ovarian follices.