LACK OF SIGNIFICANT ALTERATION IN THE PROSTATE OR TESTIS OF F344 RAT OFFSPRING AFTER TRANSPLACENTAL AND LACTATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BISPHENOL A

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound of great concern as an estrogenic xenobiotic, was assessed for its ability to cause alteration in the accessory sex organs and spermatogenesis in male offspring exposed preneonatally and neonatally. In a series of experiments focusing on rat sensitivity to gestational and lactational exposure to BPA, we investigated its effects on gestation period and reproductive organs in male offspring. In the first instance, BPA was administered to F344 female rats by gavage at 0, 7.5, 120 mg/kg/day during pregnancy and lactation period. There were no observable adverse effects in pregnant rats and the treatment did not induce any morphological abnormalities in the accessory sex organs of male offspring. However, lowered numbers of sperm in the testis were found with a dose of 120 mg/kg/day. In the second study, the same protocol with a higher number of male offspring was applied, but no reduction in the sperm count was apparent. We conclude that transplacental and lactational exposure to BPA dose not exert any adverse effects on morphogenesis of rat accessory sex organs or spermatogenesis.