Effects of polychlorinated biphenyl mixtures and three specific congeners on growth and circulating growth-related hormones

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that bioaccumulate in avian species. Exposure to PCBs can result in decreased growth. Thyroid hormones and growth hormone (GH) are important for normal growth. The present studies employed the chicken embryo to investigate effects of Aroclor 1242, Aroclor 1254, 2,2',6,6'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB), 3,3',4,4'-TCB, and 3,3',5,5'-TCB on growth and growth-related hormones. The following indices were measured: embryo mortality, body weights, bone length, pituitary GH content, and plasma concentrations of triiodothyronine (T-3), thyroxine (T-4), GH, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Fertile eggs were injected with PCBs on Day 0 and indices determined on Day 17 of incubation. Unexpectedly, 3,3',5,5'-TCB or low-dose Aroclor 1242 treatment increased body weight and bone length (P < 0.05), whereas Aroclor 1242 (high dose), 3,3',4,4'-TCB, or Aroclor 1254 treatment reduced body. weights and/or bone length (P < 0.05). Aroclor 1242 or 3,3',4,4'-TCB (low-dose treatment) elevated plasma T-4 concentrations (P < 0.05). Both growth and pituitary GH content were increased (P < 0.05) by 3,3',5,5'-TCB (low dose) or Aroclor 1242 treatment. Despite marked differences in growth rates, plasma T-3, GH, and IGF-I concentrations were unaffected by PCB treatment. Growth-related hormones may not be responsible for the growth depression observed after PCB treatment. Possibly the decrease in growth occurred because of general toxicity. The importance of chlorine position in causing thyroid hormone axis alterations was not clearly established. (C) 1997 Academic Press.