http://repub.eur.nl/res/aut/10491/ List of Publications en http://repub.eur.nl/static-eur/img/logo.png http://repub.eur.nl http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/9366/ 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental pollutants which exert a variety of toxic effects in animals, including disturbances of sexual development and reproductive function. The estrogenic effects of PCBs may be mediated in part by hydroxylated PCB metabolites (PCB-OHs), but the mechanisms by which they are brought about are not understood. PCBs as well as PCB-Hs show low affinities for both alpha and beta estrogen receptor isoforms. In the present study we demonstrate that various environmentally relevant PCB-OHs are extremely potent inhibitors of human estrogen sulfotransferase, strongly suggesting that they indirectly induce estrogenic activity by increasing estradiol bioavailability in target tissues.