Effect of PCB118 on expression of COX-2 and cPLA2 in rat testes

Han, Dae-Yong; Park, Kwang-Il; Park, Hyeon-Soo; Kang, Sang-Rim; Cho, Jae-Hyeon; Lee, Hu-Jang; Kim, Eun-Hee; Kim, Gon-Sup

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2009;49(4):345-349.

Dae-Yong Han¹, Kwang-Il Park¹, Hyeon-Soo Park¹, Sang-Rim Kang¹, Jae-Hyeon Cho¹, Hu-Jang Lee¹, Eun-Hee Kim², Gon-Sup Kim¹

¹Research Institute of Life Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University
²Department of Physical Therapy, International University of Korea

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic organic compounds with two benzene rings and well known environmental pollutants. This study examined the effect of persistent exposure to 2,$3^{prime}$,4,$4^{prime}$,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) on the proinflammatory and proapoptotic factors in male rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were administered weekly intraperitoneal injections of either PCB118 (20 mg/kg) dissolved in corn oil or corn oil alone. One week after 2 and 5 administrations, the rats were sacrificed by a pentobarbital injection. The effect of PCB118 on the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, Bcl and Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) was investigated. The level of COX-2 and cPLA2 expression was higher in the PCB118-treated rats than the control. These results suggest that PCB118 has a proinflammatory effect in rats.

Key Words: COX-2, cPLA2, PCB118, proinflammatory effect