Bisphenol-A Induced Teratogenic Potential in Early Gestation Rats

Abstract

Bisphenol- A, a chemical compound found in plastic products, is being used increasingly in industrial manufacturing materials. Estrogenic activity of BPA has been reported for over 50 years. The potential teratogenic effects and fetal toxicity of environmental estrogenic endocrine disruptors have become a great concern in recent years, and they have yet to be fully characterized. It accumulates in pregnant adult females and its continued exposure during gestation is likely to have an impact on the development of the fetus. Humans are routinely exposed to bisphenol-A (BPA), an estrogenic compound that leaches from dental materials and plastic bottles and beverage containers. The present study was conducted to evaluate embryo toxic and teratogenic effects of BPA exposure during the early gestation period (Gestational day 8^th to 15^th) of albino rat. Pregnant rats were administered 300 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of BPA orally using sesame oil as a vehicle from days 1– 15^th of gestation. The control group received sesame oil only. On completion of the treatment period, the half of the experimental animals was sacrificed under light anesthesia using ether and the other half was allowed to complete their term and deliver their pups. The number of implantations, number of corpus lutea, litter size, litter weight and growth rate of the viable offsprings, nervousness, twitching of head, agitation, hazy movement, symmetrical distribution of embryos in both uterine horns were altered and induction of external and skeletal malformations after BPA administration. BPA also induced some abnormal changes in early gestation such as teratogenicity. The present study suggested that BPA adversely affected the reproductive development of the early gestation rats.