Biological Evaluation of Styrene Oligomers for Endocrine-Disrupting Effects

Yoichi NOBUHARA; Satoshi HIRANO; Yukimasa AZUMA; Katsuhiro DATE; Katsutoshi OHNO; Kazunori TANAKA; Shoichiro MATSUSHIRO; Takanobu SAKURAI; Satoshi SHIOZAWA; Masaru CHIBA; Toshihiro YAMADA

doi:10.3358/shokueishi.40.36

Yoichi NOBUHARA, Satoshi HIRANO, Yukimasa AZUMA, Katsuhiro DATE, Katsutoshi OHNO, Kazunori TANAKA, Shoichiro MATSUSHIRO, Takanobu SAKURAI, Satoshi SHIOZAWA, Masaru CHIBA, Toshihiro YAMADA

Author information

Yoichi NOBUHARA
Central Research Institute, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
Satoshi HIRANO
Central Research Institute, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
Yukimasa AZUMA
Central Research Institute, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
Katsuhiro DATE
Central Research Institute, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
Katsutoshi OHNO
Central Research Institute, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
Kazunori TANAKA
Central Research Institute, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
Shoichiro MATSUSHIRO
Central Research Institute, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
Takanobu SAKURAI
Central Research Institute, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
Satoshi SHIOZAWA
Central Research Institute, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
Masaru CHIBA
Central Research Institute, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
Toshihiro YAMADA
Central Research Institute, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.

Keywords: instant noodle cup, styrene monomer, styrene dimer, styrene trimer, estrogen receptor, androgen receptor, MCF-7 cells, uterotrophic assay

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1999 Volume 40 Issue 1 Pages 36-45_1

DOI https://doi.org/10.3358/shokueishi.40.36

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Abstract

In order to evaluate the endocrine-disrupting effects of the styrene oligomers in polystyrene, used in cups for instant noodles, we examined the effects of styrene monomer (SM), styrene dimers (SD: NSD-01, 08, 09) and styrene trimers (ST: NST-01, 02, 03) on the estrogen receptor (ER) binding assay, the androgen receptor (AR) binding assay, the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, the steroidogenesis in Leydig cells of rats and the uterotrophic assay of immature rats. SM, SD and ST did not significantly bind to ER or AR of rats, did not induce the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, did not inhibit testosterone production in Leydig cells of rats, and did not induce estrogen-like alteration in the uterus and vagina of immature female rats. Therefore, it appears that these SM, SD and ST have no endocrine-disrupting effects through ER, AR and steroidogenesis mechanisms.

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