Hexachlorobenzine Toxicity in the Monkey Ovary: I. Ultrastructure Induced by Low (0.1 Mg/Kg) Dose Exposure
Introduction. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), a persistent and mobile organochlorine pesticide, is known to occur in the environment. The HCB has been shown to be present in human serum and follicular fluid. An objective of the present study was to detect the cytologic effects of HCB on ovarian follicles in a primate model.Materials and Methods. Eight Cynomolgus monkeys were housed under controlled conditions at the Animal Facility of Health and Welfare, Ottawa. Animals were orally administered gelatin capsules containing HCB mixed with glucose in daily dosages of 0.0 or 0.1 mg/kg body weight for 90 days; the former was the control group. On the menstrual period following completion of dosing, the monkeys underwent an induction cycle of IVF. At necropsy, one ovary from each animal was diced into ca. 2- to 3-mm cubed specimens that were fixed by immersion in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.3); specimens were again fixed in 2% osmium tetroxide prepared in the same buffer.