Bone tissue composition, dimensions and strength in female rats given an increased dietary level of vitamin A or exposed to 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) alone or in combination with vitamin C

• Published in: Toxicology (Amsterdam) Vol. 151; no. 1; pp. 11 - 23
• Main Authors: Lind, P.M, Larsson, S, Johansson, S, Melhus, H, Wikström, M, Lindhe, Ö, Örberg, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 26.10.2000; Amsterdam Elsevier Science
• Subjects: 3,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl; Animals; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - drug effects; Bone and Bones - anatomy & histology; Bone and Bones - drug effects; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Bone and Bones/anatomy & histology/drug effects/metabolism; Bone strength; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Diaphyses - anatomy & histology; Diaphyses - drug effects; Diaphyses - metabolism; Diaphyses/anatomy & histology/drug effects/metabolism; Diet; Epiphyses - anatomy & histology; Epiphyses - drug effects; Epiphyses - metabolism; Epiphyses/anatomy & histology/drug effects/metabolism; Estrogen Antagonists - toxicity; Female; Humerus - anatomy & histology; Humerus - drug effects; Humerus - metabolism; Humerus/anatomy & histology/drug effects/metabolism; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Organ Size - drug effects; Osteocalcin - pharmacology; Peripheral quantitative computed tomography; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - toxicity; Rat; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Toxicology; Various organic compounds; Vitamin A; Vitamin A - pharmacology; Vitamin C; Trab A, trabecular area (mm 2); Rat; Polar SSI, polar moment of inertia (mm 4); Tot A, total cross-sectional area; 3,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl; Cort Den, cortical density (mg/cm 3); Trab den, trabecular density (mg/cm 3); PCB, polychlorinated biphenyls; Vitamin A; pQCT, peripheral quantitative computed tomography; Cort A, cortical area (mm 2); Mar A, marrow cavity (mm 2); PCB126, 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl; Peripheral quantitative computed tomography; Vitamin C; Crt thk, cortical thickness (μm); Bone strength; Osteocalcin; Ascorbic acid; Material composition; Toxicity; Rodentia; Supplemented diet; Dimension; Polychlorobiphenyl; Density; Toxic association; Retinol; Prevention; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Female; Serum; Bone; Humerus; Trabecular Meshwork; Strength; Rats; Tomography; Sprague-Dawley; X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0300-483X; 1879-3185; 1879-3185
• DOI: 10.1016/S0300-483X(00)00262-6

In previous studies we have described structural and functional changes in rat bone tissue caused by 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126). Some of the effects caused by PCB126 resemble those found in vitamin C-deficient rats, as well as those found in rats with a high dietary intake of vitamin A. The present investigation was designed to determine if these PCB126-induced changes could be inhibited by addition of vitamin C to the drinking water and if they could be evoked by vitamin A administration. Five groups of female rats were used in this study, which lasted for 12 weeks. Three of the groups were exposed to PCB126 (total dose 320 μg/kg, bw), either alone or in combination with vitamin C added to the drinking water (1 and 10 g/l, respectively). One group was given feed with increased level of vitamin A (600 000 U/kg pellet) and the fifth group served as controls. Using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), it was found that PCB126 increased trabecular density and cortical thickness, but reduced the trabecular area. Furthermore, maximum torque and stiffness of the humerus during torsional testing and serum osteocalcin levels were reduced by PCB126. Of the PCB126 induced effects observed, addition of vitamin C only inhibited the reduction of serum osteocalcin. Like PCB126 vitamin A supplementation increased the inorganic content and the bone density and also reduced the trabecular area and polar moment of inertia but did not increase the cortical thickness or reduce maximum torque, stiffness or serum osteocalcin level. Apparently, the effects induced by PCB126 are not mediated either via decreased vitamin C level or increased vitamin A level.