The dioxin-like pollutant PCB 126 (3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl) affects risk factors for cardiovascular disease in female rats.

Epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to persistent organic pollutants such as organochlorines might induce cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. Some of these organochlorines, such as dioxins and some dioxin-like PCBs, have been characterised as anti-estrogenic due to their inhibition of estrogenic-induced responses. In the present pilot study, 40 female rats were subjected to either exposure to the dioxin-like 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126) or vehicle, as well as ovariectomy (OVX) or sham operation in a 2 x 2 factorial design over 12 weeks to explore potential interactions between estrogen status and PCB 126 exposure on cardiovascular risk factors. PCB 126 increased heart weight and serum cholesterol levels in both groups. PCB 126 increased blood pressure in the sham-operated animals only. In conclusion, PCB 126 exposure in female rats resulted in effects on cardiovascular risk factors, such as serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart weight. Of these effects of PCB 126, the increase in blood pressure was dependent on estrogen status.