Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of synthetic xenobiotics that have been used in many industrial applications. Currently, PCBs are among the most prominent environmental contaminants. Previously we showed that PCBs impair secretion of prostaglandins (PGs) at the oviduct. PGs are involved in the regulation of oviductal contractions and the synthesis of leukemia inhibitory factors LIF. Since oviductal contractions are crucial for gamete and embryo transport, and LIF is essential for embryo implantation, the direct effect of PCBs on oviductal motor activity and LIF mRNA expression were investigated. Oviductal strips and cells were taken from cows during the estrous cycle and were treated with PCBs at concentrations close to their environmental ranges. All the studied PCBs decreased the force of the contractions of the longitudinal and circular muscles of the isthmus. Additionally, these PCBs decreased the amplitude of the longitudinal muscle of the oviduct. Moreover, PCB-30-OH and PCB-153 increased the mRNA expression of LIF. Since PCBs inhibit the motor function of the oviduct and stimulate the synthesis of LIF, it is possible that PCBs can slow gamete or embryo transport and increase the potential for pathological embryo implantation in the oviduct.

多氯联苯（PCBs）是一组已在许多工业应用中使用的合成异种生物。当前，多氯联苯是最突出的环境污染物之一。以前，我们表明PCB会损害输卵管中前列腺素（PG）的分泌。PG参与输卵管收缩的调节和白血病抑制因子LIF的合成。由于输卵管收缩对于配子和胚胎运输至关重要，而LIF对于胚胎植入至关重要，因此研究了PCBs对输卵管运动活性和LIF mRNA表达的直接影响。在发情周期中从母牛身上取走输卵管和细胞，并用多氯联苯处理浓度接近其环境范围的物质。所有研究过的多氯联苯均降低了峡部纵向和圆形肌肉的收缩力。此外，这些多氯联苯降低了输卵管纵肌的振幅。此外，PCB-30-OH和PCB-153增加了LIF的mRNA表达。由于多氯联苯抑制了输卵管的运动功能并刺激了LIF的合成，因此多氯联苯有可能减慢配子或胚胎的运输并增加在输卵管中进行病理性胚胎植入的可能性。