The Effects of Propylparabens on the Oviductal Epithelium in Female Lining in Female Mice

Student Classification

Sharina Inniss, 4th - year, Laboratory Animal Science

Faculty Mentor

Matthew Dean, Animal Science, Malia Berg, Animal Science

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

Spring 2023

Abstract

Parabens, which are endocrine disrupting chemicals, are ubiquitously found in the environment and are derived from industrial-scale chemical synthesis. They are widely used in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical industries and are absorbed through via ingestion & dermal contact. Parabens can interfere with normal estrogen by binding to estrogen receptors alpha (ESR1) and beta (ESR2). However, data on the effects of propylparaben on the oviductal epithelial cells is limited and has yet to be thoroughly investigated by the scientific community. The oviduct is a small tube responsible for transporting gametes and embryos. It’s divided into two regions: the ampulla which is where fertilization takes place and the isthmus which is a reservoir for sperm transport. The objective of this research is to identify the morphological effects of propylparaben exposure on the adult female mouse’s epithelial cells in the oviduct and to see if oral exposure to this toxin will affect the secretory and ciliated portions of the epithelial lining in the oviducts. In this experiment, the mice were treated for a span of 10 days with the following treatments groups: Corn oil (no paraben; vehicle control), and 3 dosages of propylparaben: 20 um/kg/day, 200 um/kg/day, and 20 mg/kg/day. Mice were euthanized after 10 days of treatment prior to tissue collection and were at diestrus. The samples were stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) that were used for histological analyses to determine if there was a differentiation to cell height due to exposure and ready to be used for Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses.

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