Exposure to Propylparaben During Pregnancy and Lactation Induces Long-Term Alterations to the Mammary Gland in Mice.

TitleExposure to Propylparaben During Pregnancy and Lactation Induces Long-Term Alterations to the Mammary Gland in Mice.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsMogus, JP, LaPlante, CD, Bansal, R, Matouskova, K, Schneider, BR, Daniele, E, Silva, SJ, Hagen, MJ, Dunphy, KA, D Jerry, J, Schneider, SS, Vandenberg, LN
JournalEndocrinology
Volume162
Issue6
Date Published2021 06 01
ISSN1945-7170
KeywordsAnimals, Cells, Cultured, Endocrine Disruptors, Female, Lactation, Male, Mammary Glands, Animal, Maternal Exposure, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Parabens, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Abstract

The mammary gland is a hormone sensitive organ that is susceptible to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during the vulnerable periods of parous reorganization (ie, pregnancy, lactation, and involution). Pregnancy is believed to have long-term protective effects against breast cancer development; however, it is unknown if EDCs can alter this effect. We examined the long-term effects of propylparaben, a common preservative used in personal care products and foods, with estrogenic properties, on the parous mouse mammary gland. Pregnant BALB/c mice were treated with 0, 20, 100, or 10 000 µg/kg/day propylparaben throughout pregnancy and lactation. Unexposed nulliparous females were also evaluated. Five weeks post-involution, mammary glands were collected and assessed for changes in histomorphology, hormone receptor expression, immune cell number, and gene expression. For several parameters of mammary gland morphology, propylparaben reduced the effects of parity. Propylparaben also increased proliferation, but not stem cell number, and induced modest alterations to expression of ERα-mediated genes. Finally, propylparaben altered the effect of parity on the number of several immune cell types in the mammary gland. These results suggest that propylparaben, at levels relevant to human exposure, can interfere with the effects of parity on the mouse mammary gland and induce long-term alterations to mammary gland structure. Future studies should address if propylparaben exposures negate the protective effects of pregnancy on mammary cancer development.

DOI10.1210/endocr/bqab041
Alternate JournalEndocrinology
PubMed ID33724348
PubMed Central IDPMC8121128
Grant ListU01 ES026140 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States