Biomaterial Database

Oocyte destruction by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. 1983

D R Mattison, and K Shiromizu, and M S Nightingale

Certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, ubiquitous environmental pollutants, destroy oocytes. Oocyte destruction by polycyclic hydrocarbons requires distribution of the parent hydrocarbon to the ovary where ovarian enzymes metabolize the compound to reactive intermediates responsible for ovotoxicity. Descriptive assays of polycyclic hydrocarbon metabolic activation such as the aryl hydrocarbon (benzo(a)pyrene) hydroxylase assay (AHH) are not good predictors of strain or species differences in sensitivity to polycyclic hydrocarbon ovotoxicity. Using benzo(a)pyrene as a probe of ovarian metabolic processing suggests that the rate of formation of metabolites along the metabolic pathway to the 7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide may be the appropriate measure of the role of metabolic activation in strain or species differences in sensitivity to oocyte destruction. The multistep metabolic pathway involved in ovarian metabolic processing of benzo(a)pyrene may represent a useful model for exploring the roles of metabolic activation, detoxification, intrinsic sensitivity, and repair in reproductive toxicity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009865	Oocytes	Female germ cells derived from OOGONIA and termed OOCYTES when they enter MEIOSIS. The primary oocytes begin meiosis but are arrested at the diplotene state until OVULATION at PUBERTY to give rise to haploid secondary oocytes or ova (OVUM).	Ovocytes,Oocyte,Ovocyte
D010053	Ovary	The reproductive organ (GONADS) in female animals. In vertebrates, the ovary contains two functional parts: the OVARIAN FOLLICLE for the production of female germ cells (OOGENESIS); and the endocrine cells (GRANULOSA CELLS; THECA CELLS; and LUTEAL CELLS) for the production of ESTROGENS and PROGESTERONE.	Ovaries
D010063	Ovum	A mature haploid female germ cell extruded from the OVARY at OVULATION.	Egg,Egg, Unfertilized,Ova,Eggs, Unfertilized,Unfertilized Egg,Unfertilized Eggs
D011083	Polycyclic Compounds	Compounds which contain two or more rings in their structure.	Compounds, Polycyclic
D004790	Enzyme Induction	An increase in the rate of synthesis of an enzyme due to the presence of an inducer which acts to derepress the gene responsible for enzyme synthesis.	Induction, Enzyme
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001189	Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases	A large group of cytochrome P-450 (heme-thiolate) monooxygenases that complex with NAD(P)H-FLAVIN OXIDOREDUCTASE in numerous mixed-function oxidations of aromatic compounds. They catalyze hydroxylation of a broad spectrum of substrates and are important in the metabolism of steroids, drugs, and toxins such as PHENOBARBITAL, carcinogens, and insecticides.	Microsomal Monooxygenases,Xenobiotic Monooxygenases,Hydroxylases, Aryl Hydrocarbon,Monooxygenases, Microsomal,Monooxygenases, Xenobiotic
D001564	Benzo(a)pyrene	A potent mutagen and carcinogen. It is a public health concern because of its possible effects on industrial workers, as an environmental pollutant, an as a component of tobacco smoke.	3,4-Benzopyrene,3,4-Benzpyrene,3,4 Benzopyrene,3,4 Benzpyrene
D001580	Benzopyrenes	A class of chemicals that contain an anthracene ring with a naphthalene ring attached to it.	Benzpyrene