Effects of nitrophenols isolated from diesel exhaust particles on reproductive and endocrine system

本研究以大鼠和日本鹌鹑为实验动物，研究了首次从柴油机尾气颗粒物中分离得到的硝基酚类化合物对生殖内分泌系统的影响。通过体内和体外实验，我们明确地表明这些硝基酚类化合物具有雌激素样和抗雄激素样活性。然而，这些化合物的活性因化合物结构的不同而不同。其中两种化合物是杀虫剂的主要还原性物质，具有重要的生态效应。结果总结如下：1）。4-硝基酚（PNP）具有很强的雌激素样活性和抗雄激素活性。PNP是一种广泛应用于发展中国家的农药杀虫剂的主要还原剂。PNP引起日本鹌鹑睾丸严重萎缩，表明具有高抗雄激素活性2）。3-甲基-4-硝基苯酚的活性低于PNP。PNMC是杀螟松杀虫剂的主要还原剂，在包括日本在内的世界范围内广泛使用。3）。其中4-硝基-3-苯基苯酚（PNMPP）的活性最高。4）。2-硝基苯酚在大鼠中未显示任何活性。这些结果也清楚地表明了构效关系。

We examined the effects of nitrophenols, firstly isolated from diesel exhaust particles by us, on reproductive endocrine system using rats and Japanese quails. We dearly showed that these nitrophenols had estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities in rats by in vivo or in vitro experiments. The activities of these compounds, however, were different by differences of the architecture of the compounds. Two species of the compounds were clarified to a primary reductive substance of insecticide showing very important suggestions on ecological effects. The results were summarized as follows; 1). 4-ntorophenol (PNP) dearly showed high estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities. PNP is a primary reductive substance of insecticide parathion that is widely used in the developing country in the world. PNP caused severe atrophy of testes of Japanese quails suggesting a high anti-androgenic activity 2). 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol showed lower activities than that of PNP. PNMC is a primary reductive substance of insecticide fenitrothion that is used in the world include in Japan. 3). 4-nitro-3-phenyl phenol (PNMPP) showed the highest activities in these compounds. 4). 2-nitrophenol did not show any activities in rats. These results dearly showed structure-activity relationships, too.