Dermal exposure to the UV filter benzophenone-3 during early pregnancy affects fetal growth and sex ratio of the progeny in mice

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze whether dermal exposure to benzophenone 3 (BP-3) during pregnancy affects criticalparameters of pregnancy, and whether this exposure may affect the outcome of a second pregnancy in mice. Pregnant micewere exposed to 50-mg BP-3/kg body weight/day or olive oil (vehicle) from gestation day (gd) 0 to gd6 by dermal exposure.High-frequency ultrasound imaging was used to follow up fetal and placental growth in vivo. Blood flow parameters inuterine and umbilical arteries were analyzed by Doppler measurements. Mice were killed at gd5, gd10, and gd14 on the firstpregnancy, and at gd10 and 14 on the second pregnancy. The weight of the first and second progenies was recorded, and sexratio was analyzed. BP-3 levels were analyzed in serum and amniotic fluid. BP-3 reduced the fetal weight at gd14 and fetoplacentaindex of first pregnancy, with 16.13% of fetuses under the 5th percentile; arteria uterina parameters showed alteredpattern at gd10. BP-3 was detected in serum 4 h after the exposure at gd6, and in amniotic fluid at gd14. Offspring weightof first progeny was lower in BP-3 group. Placenta weights of BP-3 group were decreased in second pregnancy. First andsecond progenies of mothers exposed to BP-3 showed a higher percentage of females (female sex ratio). Dermal exposureto low dose of BP-3 during early pregnancy resulted in an intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) phenotype, disturbed sexratio and alterations in the growth curve of the offspring in mouse model.