The influence of chlordecone and oestrogen on the secretion of proteinaceous molecules of the mouse uterus

Ovariectomised mice were treated with sesame seed oil, oestradiol, or one of three different levels of the insecticide chlordecone (1, 1a, 3, 3a, 4, 5, 5a, 6-decachloro-octahydro-1, 3, 4-metheno-2H-cyclobutacd] pentalen-2-one). After 9 days of treatment, the uteri were injected with (35)S-methionine and radiolabelled proteins were flushed from uteri 4 h later. Reproductive tract weights and the total amount of radioactivity in uterine flushings were measured. Reproductive tract weights increased significantly only in animals treated with the highest dose of chlordecone tested and oestradiol-treated animals. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitated radioactivity was increased by all doses of insecticide chlordecone tested but increases were significant only at one level. The greatest stimulation of (35)S-methionine incorporation occurred in ovariectomised animals treated with oestradiol. Radioactive proteins were analysed by fluorography of two-dimensional gels. The fluorograms showed that the proteinaceous uterine secretions, as influenced by chlordecone, were greatly reduced in number as compared with those secreted under the influence of oestradiol. Chlordecone appears to cause the secretion of proteinaceous material from the uteri of mice in a qualitatively different manner than does oestradiol.