Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and the Adrenal Gland: From Toxicity to Endocrine Disruption

Abstract

Endocrine disruptors are exogenous compounds that pollute the environment and have effects similar to hormones when inside the body. One of the most widespread endocrine disruptors in the wild is the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). Toxic doses of DDT are known to cause cell atrophy and degeneration in the adrenal zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. Daily exposure in a developing organism to supposedly non-toxic doses of DDT have been found to impair the morphogenesis of both the cortex and the medulla of the adrenal glands, as well as disturbing the secretion of hormones in cortical and chromaffin cells. Comparison of high and very low levels of DDT exposure revealed drastic differences in the morphological and functional changes in the adrenal cortex. Moreover, the three adrenocortical zones have different levels of sensitivity to the disruptive actions of DDT. The zona glomerulosa and zona reticularis demonstrate sensitivity to both high and very low levels of DDT in prenatal and postnatal periods. In contrast, the zona fasciculata is less damaged by low (supposedly non-toxic) exposure to DDT and its metabolites but is affected by toxic levels of exposure; thus, DDT exerts both toxic and disruptive effects on the adrenal glands, and sensitivity to these two types of action varies in adrenocortical zones. Disruptive low-dose exposure leads to more severe affection of the adrenal function.

Assessment of methomyl‐induced adrenal gland disruption in rat fetuses and pups: Potential protective effects of propolis supplementation

“…Additionally, Rachid et al (2016) reported that methomyl administration to pregnant female rats induced similar histological changes in the adrenal gland of rat fetuses. Timokhina et al (2021) illustrated that DDT led to toxic and disruptive effects on the adrenal glands including cell atrophy and degeneration in the adrenal ZF and ZR. This may be due to the ability of pesticides to cross the placental barrier so that they can enter the fetal circulation and inhibit fetal adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) secretion (Lindhe et al, 2002).…”

“…In their study, Rachid and Yousef (2013) reported that pregnant rats injected with methomyl showed many pathological changes in the adrenal glands and ovary. The study of Timokhina et al (2021) indicated the severe effects low doses of pesticide exposure on the prenatal and postnatal development, in addition to the disruption of the growth and function of the adrenal glands.…”

Mosquito control exposures and breast cancer risk: analysis of 1071 cases and 2096 controls from the Ghana Breast Health Study

“…A link between malaria insecticides and breast cancer has been shown in early studies examining DDT exposure. DDT is a well-known organochlorine that was once a widely used insecticide used for indoor residual spraying and sprayed extensively in agriculture and populated areas until banned in many countries after being discovered to be an endocrine disrupter [30,31]. Decades later, several studies using Child Health and Development data have shown that DDT exposure to high levels during childhood through early adolescence may contribute to the risk of breast cancer [32][33][34].…”

A review of the endocrine disrupting effects of micro and nano plastic and their associated chemicals in mammals

“…While octyl phenol causes changes in the regions of the cortex medulla, cytoplasmic decomposition in cortex cells, and hemorrhage in the tissue interface of pregnant rats ( 179 ). DDT, a widespread ED causes cell atrophy and degenerative effects in the adrenal cortex mainly in the zona fasciculate and zona reticularis ( 191 ). DDT can bio-accumulate in the thymus, brain, and even in adipose tissue, and induces impairments of both cortex and medulla of the adrenal gland, disrupting hormonal secretion in cortical and chromaffin cells as well as suppressing the thyroxine hydroxylase production in chromaffin cells ( 191 ).…”