Effects of 2-bromopropane on the female reproductive function in Sprague-Dawley rats

Abstract

2-Bromopropane (2BP) has been implicated to be the reason for the mass intoxication of workers at an electronic company in Korea. A case series study indicated that 2BP was the possible causative chemical for reproductive toxicity, causing severe anemia accompanied by amenorrhea among female workers, and azoospermia or oligospermia among male workers. To clarify the effect of 2BP on the female reproductive function, repeated doses of 2BP were tested on female Sprague-Dawley rats for 21 days. Ten rats were assigned to each treatment group. The rats were maintained in a 12 hr: 12 hr light-dark cycle and vaginal smears were monitored daily for 3 cycles. After the rats had completed 3 estrous cycles, vehicle control olive oil, 300 mg, 600 mg, and 900 mg/kg of 2BP were injected into intraperitoneum for 14 days. The female rats were then mated with male rats on a 1:1 ratio basis. The treatment continued for an additional 7 days. Rats treated with 2BP experienced a significant decrease in body weight gain depending on the dose of 2BP. The estrous cycles of the rats continued at a normal duration of time before the initiation of treatment, showing 4.32 days for the control group, 4.79 days for the low dose, 4.63 days for the middle dose, and 4.75 days of estrous cycle for the high dose group. 2BP treatment, however, induced a significant delay of the estrous cycle in the high dose treated group, showing 11.1 +/- 3.82 days of the estrous cycle. 2BP decreased the fertility and tended to decrease in the number of pups born, depending on the dose. A 900 mg/kg treatment of 2BP decreased ovarian weight, but 2BP did not affect the length of gestation. Our results indicated that 2BP seemed to be the causative agent for amenorrhea observed in female workers.