Steroidogenic differential effects in neonatal porcine Leydig cells exposed to persistent organic pollutants derived from cod liver oil

• POP extracts disrupted estradiol and testosterone secretion in neonatal Leydig cells.
• The opposite dose-dependent hormone secretion were related to LH's presence.
• Down-regulation of important steroidogenic genes were related to POP extracts not LH.
• The endocrine disruption seen by the POP extracts was not related to cytotoxicity.
• Small differences in composition concentration of compounds and “old” POPs suggested important for steroidogenic alterations.

Seafood products, including fish and fish oils, are major sources of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which may cause endocrine disruption related to reproductive dysfunction in males. Primary porcine neonatal Leydig cells were exposed to three extracts of POPs obtained from different stages in production of cod liver oil dietary supplement, in the absence and presence of luteinizing hormone (LH). No reduced viability was observed and all POP extracts showed increased testosterone and estradiol levels in unstimulated cells and decreased testosterone and estradiol secretion in LH-stimulated cells. A decrease in central steriodogenic genes including STAR, CYP11A1, HSD3B and CYP17A1 was obtained in both culture conditions with all POP extracts. We implicate both small differences in composition and concentration of compounds as well as “old” POPs to be important for the observed steroidogenic effects.