Possible estrogenic and/or antiandrogenic effects of methoxychlor on prolactin release in male rats

Methoxychlor (MTX) is a pesticide currently used as a substitute for dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT). This organochloride insecticide has some estrogenic properties, and may modify the feedback mechanisms of steroids on the hypothalamus and pituitary. This work was undertaken to explore the possible effects of MTX on the episodic prolactin release and to analyze whether these effects are mediated by dopamine (DA), luteinizing hormone (LH), and/or testosterone. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 25 mg/kg/day of MTX in sesame oil for 30 days. Control animals received vehicle only. The episodic prolactin release and plasma testosterone levels were measured as well as the dopamine (DA) content in the median eminence (ME) and in the anterior (AH), mediobasal (MBH), and posterior (PH) hypothalamus. The mean serum prolactin levels and absolute pulse amplitude of the hormone increased after the xenobiotic administration, whereas its relative pulse amplitude diminished. The frequency and duration of prolactin peaks and its half-life were not modified by the treatment with the pesticide. On the other hand, methoxychlor decreased the DA content in ME, increased it in AH, and did not change it in MBH or PH. MTX decreased plasma levels of LH and testosterone compared with controls. These data suggest estrogenic and antiandrogenic effects of MTX on the episodic prolactin secretion; the changes observed in prolactin release could be explained, at least in part, by some of the changes of DA at the hypothalamus and of LH at the pituitary, but not by changes of testosterone at the testicular level.