Activity of alkaline phosphatase, acidic phosphatase and nonspecific esterase in the oviducts of puerperal ewes after exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the alkaline, acidic phosphatase and nonspecific esterase activity in the epithelial cells of oviducts after exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at the time of puerperium. PCBs were administered in the last days of pregnancy and during early puerperium. Animals in the experimental group were exposed to Delor 105 at a dose of 100 &mu;g/kg/day and were euthanised on Day 17 postpartum (<i>n</i> = 4), i.e. 5 days after the termination of 30-day PCB administration; on Day 25 postpartum (<i>n</i> = 5), i.e. 17 days from the last PCB administration and on Day 34 postpartum (<i>n</i> = 5), which corresponded to Day 28 from the completion of PCB administration. Ewes in the control group were euthanised on Day 17 (<i>n</i> = 3), Day 25 (<i>n</i> = 4) and Day 34 (<i>n</i> = 4) postpartum. The authors demonstrated the inhibitory effect of PCB on the enzymatic system of the oviduct during the puerperal period. The alkaline phosphatase, acidic phosphatase and nonspecific esterase activity in the oviductal epithelial cells during a 34-day observation period exhibited a rising trend (<i>P</i> < 0.001 vs. <i>P</i> < 0.001 vs. <i>P</i> < 0.01) in the control group of animals. Experimental animals exposed to the 30-day PCB administration (Delor 105) showed a stagnant tendency (<i>P</i> > 0.05) in alkaline phosphatase while acidic phosphatase and nonspecific esterase activity (<i>P</i> > 0.05) dropped even below the level of their activity values in the control group. It is essential to continue to monitor the effect of pollutants in exposed industrial areas on reparative and regenerative processes in puerperium and their possible impact on reproductive performance.