Simple, sensitive and reliable in vivo assays to evaluate the estrogenic activity of endocrine disruptors.

PURPOSE: We compared three in vivo assays, determining changes of body weight, and uterotropic and vaginal cytology assays, for the evaluation of estrogenic activity of an estrogen disrupting compound, Pueraria mirifica (PM), in comparison with 17β-estradiol (E).

METHODS

Female rats were ovariectomized and gavaged with distilled water, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg BW/day of E and 100 and 1,000 mg/kg BW/day of PM for 14 days. Body weights were measured weekly, and vaginal epithelium cells were monitored daily. The uterus was dissected at the end of the treatment period, weighed and examined for histomorphometry.

RESULTS

There were a decrease in body weight and an increase in uterine weight, uterine, endometrium and myometrium areas, uterine gland numbers, and percent of cornified cell which were dependent on doses of E and PM treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Of the three assays proposed, although all are reliable and had critical read-out, measurements of body and uterine weights is likely convenient and simple, but the uterotropic assay needs to kill the animals. Vaginal cytology assay appears most promising for sensitivity and shortening the duration of the assay. Compared to those of E, the estrogenic activity of PM at concentrations of 100 and 1,000 mg/kg BW was in the range of 14 to >20 mg/kg BW.