Impact of Obesity on Ovotoxicity Induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in

Insulin, elevated during obesity, regulates xenobiotic bio-transformation enzymes, potentially through phosphatidylinosi-tol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, in extraovarian tissues. PI3K regulates oocyte viability, follicular activation, and ovarian chemical biotransformation. 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), a carcinogen and ovotoxicant, destroys all stages of follicles, leading to premature ovarian failure. Obesity has been reported to promote DMBA-induced tumors, but it remains unknown whether obesity affects ovarian xenobiotic metabo-lism. Therefore, we investigated ovarian expression of xenobi-otic metabolism genes—microsomal epoxide hydrolase (Ephx1), glutathione S-transferase (GST) class Pi (Gstp1) and class mu 1 (Gstm1), and PI3K-signaling members (protein kinase B [AKT] alpha [Akt1], beta [Akt2], and the forkhead transcription factor subfamily 3 [Foxo3])—in lean and obese female mice after DMBA exposure (1 mg/kg; intraperitoneal injection for 14 days). Relative to lean, obese mice had decreased (P, 0.05) healthy primordial and primary follicle numbers but increased (P, 0.05) secondary and preovulatory follicles numbers. Obesity increased (P, 0.05) Akt1, Akt2, Gstm1, and Ephx1 mRNA and pAKTSer473/Thr308, GSTM1, GSTP1, and EPHX1 protein levels. DMBA decreased (P, 0.05) ovarian weight in lean and obese mice, however, obese DMBA-treated females had a greater reduction (P, 0.05) in ovarian weight. In both lean and obese mice, DMBA decreased (P, 0.05) all stages of healthy follicle numbers, increased Gstp1 and Ephx1 mRNA as well as GSTM1, GSTP1, and EPHX1 protein levels, and decreased Akt1 and Akt2 mRNA as well as pAKTSer473 or pAKTThr308, FOXO3, and pFOXO3Ser253 protein expression. There was an additive effect between obesity and DMBA exposure for increased Gstm1 and Ephx1 mRNA as well as GSTM1 and EPHX1 protein expression. 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, environmental contaminants and toxicants, obesity, ovary, ovotoxicit