Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2021

Identifier

DOI: 10.1289/EHP9256; PMCID: PMC8574979

Abstract

Background: Our environment is replete with chemicals that can affect embryonic and extraembryonic development. Dioxins, such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 0; font-size: 18.08px; overflow-wrap: normal; word-spacing: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 0px; position: relative;">pp-dioxin (TCDD), are compounds affecting development through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR).

Objectives: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of TCDD exposure on pregnancy and placentation and to evaluate roles for AHR and cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) in TCDD action.

Methods: Actions of TCDD were examined in wild-type and genome-edited rat models. Placenta phenotyping was assessed using morphological, biochemical, and molecular analyses.

Results: TCDD exposures were shown to result in placental adaptations and at higher doses, pregnancy termination. Deep intrauterine endovascular trophoblast cell invasion was a prominent placentation site adaptation to TCDD. TCDD-mediated placental adaptations were dependent upon maternal AHR signaling but not upon placental or fetal AHR signaling nor the presence of a prominent AHR target, CYP1A1. At the placentation site, TCDD activated AHR signaling within endothelial cells but not trophoblast cells. Immune and trophoblast cell behaviors at the uterine-placental interface were guided by the actions of TCDD on endothelial cells.

Discussion: We identified an AHR regulatory pathway in rats activated by dioxin affecting uterine and trophoblast cell dynamics and the formation of the hemochorial placenta.

Journal Title

Environmental health perspectives

Volume

129

Issue

11

First Page

117001

Last Page

117001

Comments

Grant support

EHP is an open-access journal published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. All content is public domain unless otherwise noted.

Publisher's Link: https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9256

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