In vitro effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the contractility of bovine myometrium from the periovulatory stage of the estrous cycle.

Strips of longitudinal myometrium from cows were obtained on days 19-21 and 1-5 of the estrous cycle and incubated (aerated atmosphere; 4 degrees C; 24, 48 or 72 h) with a mixture of PCBs Aroclor (Ar) 1248 or with one of three PCBs (77, 126 or 153), all at doses of 10 or 100 ng/ml. The force and frequency of spontaneous and oxytocin (OT; 10(-7)M)-stimulated contractions of each strip was registered by means of HSE Schuler Organbath. Contractions of myometrial strips in the presence and absence of PCBs were observed after 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. All PCBs significantly affected myometrial contractions. A mixture of PCBs increased the spontaneous force of contractions after 24 h but decreased after 48 h. Individual congeners of PCB also amplified the force of contractions and in most cases this effect was dose-dependent. Response of myometrium to PCB-126 and PCB-153 or PCB-77 appeared after 24 h or 48 h of incubation. Incubation of myometrial strips with PCB congeners markedly amplified OT-stimulated contractions. This effect was less evident when tissue was pre-treated with a higher dose of PCBs. Pre-treatment with estrogen-like PCB-153 increased the spontaneous and OT-evoked frequency of myometrial contractions from days 19-21. The spontaneous force of myometrial strips' contractions as well as the effects evoked by PCBs and OT was higher before than after ovulation. In summary, PCBs affected both the force and frequency of uterine contractions. Thus, it can be concluded that PCBs may impair both ovum fertilization and blastocyst implantation in cows.