Table 1 Explanation of measured receptor transactivities induced by amniotic fluid (AF) and receptor ligand equivalent calculation
Abbreviations | Explanation | Example of calculation |
|---|---|---|
ER-tact | Luciferase reporter gene transactivity of estrogen receptor (ER) | Â |
ER-EEQ | The combined effect on ER induced by the combination of endogenous estrogen and xeno-estrogens (EDCs) given as estradiol equivalent | • ER-tact of AF: 2.51 • Interpolation of ER-tact onto E2 dose-response curve • ER-EEQ = 247.60 pg E2/ml AF |
EDC-EEQ | The integrated estrogenic effect induced by xeno-estrogens (EDCs) alone given as estradiol equivalent | • Endogenous E2: 230.23 pg/ml • (ER-EEQ) − E2 = 247.60 − 230.32 = 17.28 E2 pg/ml AF |
AR-tact | Luciferase reporter gene transactivity of androgen receptor (AR) | Â |
AR-AEQ | The combined effect on AR induced by the combination of endogenous androgens and xeno-androgens (EDCs) given as androgen equivalent | • AR-tact of AF: 3.30 • Interpolation of AR-tact onto DHT dose-response curve • AR-AEQ = 63.50 pg DHT/ml AF |
EDC-AEQ | The integrated androgenic effect induced by xeno-androgens (EDCs) alone given as androgen equivalent | • Testosterone: 470.12 pg/ml AF • DHT: estimated DHT = 10% × 470.12 = 47.01 pg/ml AF • (AR-AEQ) − DHT = 63.50 − 47.01 = 16.49 pg DHT/ml AF |
AR-AEQ/ER-EEQ | The proportion of total combined androgenic effect to the total combined estrogenic effect | • AR-AEQ = 63.50 pg DHT/mlAF • ER-EEQ = 247.60 pg E2/mlAF • AR-AEQ/ER-EEQ = 63.50/247.60 = 0.256 |
EDC-AEQ/EDC-EEQ | The proportion of EDC-induced androgenic effect to EDC-induced estrogenic effect | • EDC-AEQ = 16.49 DHT/mlAF • EDC-EEQ = 17.28 E2/mlAF • EDC-AEQ/EDC-EEQ = 16.49/17.28 = 0.954 |
TH-PE | Thyroid hormone-related proliferative effect | Â |
T3-ThEQ | The combined proliferation effect (PE) of endogenous thyroid hormone and xeno-thyroid hormone-like compounds (EDCs) given as thyroid equivalent | • TH-PE of AF: 4.56 • Interpolation of TH-PE onto T3 dose-response curve • T3-ThEQ = 3.53 ng T3/ml AF |
AhR-tact | Luciferase reporter gene transactivity of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) | Â |
AhR-TEQ | The combined effect on AhR of dioxin-like compounds given as TCDD equivalent | • AhR-tact of AF extraction: 5.67 • AhR-tact of blank: 4.75 • Interpolation of AhR-tact onto TCDD dose-response curve = AhR-TEQ • AhR-TEQ of AF extraction = 1.46 pg TCDD/ml, • AhR-TEQ of blank = 1.22 pg TCDD/ml • Final AhR-TEQ = 1.46 − 1.22 = 0.24 pg TCDD/ml AF |