Perinatal xenohormone exposure impacts sweet preference and submandibular development in male rats

摘要

Objective: To determine the effect of perinatal exposure to low doses of genistein and/or vinclozolin on submandibular salivary gland (SSG) development in juvenile and adult male rats and to establish a link with sweet preference. Material and Methods: Female rats received orally (1 mg kg-1 body weight/day) genistein and vinclozolin, alone or in combination, from the first gestational day up to weaning. Sweet preference was assessed at weaning and in adulthood in male offspring; submandibular glands were then collected to study the morphogenesis and mRNA expression of steroid receptors, growth factors and taste related proteins. Results: Exposure to genistein and/or vinclozolin resulted in a higher saccharin intake on postnatal day 25 (P 0.05) linked to a higher number of pro-acinar cells (P 0.01) and mRNA expression of progesterone receptor, growth factors and gustine (P 0.01). These increases disappeared in adulthood, but mRNA expressions of sex hormone receptors and growth factors were strongly repressed in all treated groups (P 0.01). Conclusion: Our findings confirm that the SSG are target for xenohormones and provide evidence that perinatal exposure to low doses of genistein and/or vinclozolin could simultaneously disrupt not only the salivary gland prepubertal development and sweet intake but also endocrine gene mRNA expression later in life.