title: Xenoestrogens: the emerging story of bisphenol a.
abstract: Xenoestrogens are chemicals with diverse structure that mimic estrogen. Bisphenol A (BPA), a monomer of polycarbonate and epoxy resins, has been detected in canned food and human saliva. BPA stimulates cell proliferation and induces expression of estrogen-responsive genes in vitro, albeit with a relatively low potency. In vivo, BPA increases prolactin release and stimulates uterine, vaginal and mammary growth and differentiation. BPA shares similarities in structure, metabolism and action with diethylstilbestrol (DES), a known human teratogen and carcinogen. This review considers the hypothesis that BPA is converted in vivo to hydroxylated metabolite(s) with enhanced estrogenicity and genotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ben-Jonathan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steinmetz