Reproductive function in rats exposed neonatally to bisphenol A and estradiol benzoate

• Published in: Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) N.Y.), 1999-07, Vol.13 (4), p.303-311
• Main Authors: Nagao, Tetsuji, Saito, Yoshiaki, Usumi, Kenji, Kuwagata, Makiko, Imai, Kiyoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Benzhydryl Compounds; Biological and medical sciences; Bisphenol A; Brain - drug effects; Brain - pathology; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Copulation - drug effects; Epididymis - drug effects; Epididymis - pathology; Estradiol - analogs & derivatives; Estradiol - toxicity; Estradiol benzoate; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal - toxicity; Female; Fertility - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Neonatal exposure; Organ Size - drug effects; Phenols - toxicity; Preoptic Area - drug effects; Preoptic Area - growth & development; Preoptic Area - pathology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reproduction; Reproduction - drug effects; SDN-POA; Sexual behavior; Testis - drug effects; Testis - pathology; Toxicology; Various organic compounds
• ISSN: 0890-6238; 1873-1708
• DOI: 10.1016/S0890-6238(99)00017-9

The reproductive function in rats treated subcutaneously (s.c.) with 300 μg/g bisphenol A or 2 μg/g estradiol benzoate from postnatal Day 1 to 5 was examined after puberty as well as histolopathogic changes in reproductive organs. All male and female rats treated postnatally with estradiol benzoate showed poor reproductive capability, including adverse effects on masculine sexual behavior, and marked histopathologic alterations of the reproductive organs. In addition, estradiol benzoate markedly reduced the volume of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) in males. On the other hand, all male and female rats treated postnatally with bisphenol A showed normal reproductive function and no histopathologic abnormalities of reproductive organs. Bisphenol A did not affect the volume of the SDN-POA. These results indicated that neonatal exposure to estradiol benzoate affects reproductive function in male and female rats, and treatment with bisphenol A at a fairly high dose was ineffective if given postnatally to male and female rats.