Persistent Exposure to 2,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) Induces Hyperalphacholesterolemia in Rats

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic organic compounds with two phenyl groups well known environmental pollutants. This study examined the effect of persistent exposure to 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) on serum cholesterol levels in male rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were administered weekly intraperitoneal injections of either PCB118 (20 mg/kg) dissolved in corn oil or corn oil alone. One week after 2 and 5 administrations, the rats were sacrificed by a pentobarbital injection, and the effect of PCB118 on the serum levels of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) was investigated. The protein expression level of apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylgulutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase was also examined. In this study, the administration of PCB 118 induced hyperalphacholesterolemia in rats. In addition, the protein expression level of HMG-CoA reductase and apo A-I was higher in the PCB118-treated rats than in the control. These results suggest that the hyperalphacholesterolemia induced by PCB118 in male rats may be associated with an increase in HMG-CoA reductase and apo A-I expression.