Neonatal exposure to bisphenol A alters estrogen-dependent mechanisms governing sexual behavior in the adult female rat.
This study examines the effects of neonatal exposure to the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) on the hypothalamic circuitry controlling the female sexual behaviors of adult rats. From postnatal day 1 (PND1) to PND7, pups were injected with corn oil (control) or BPA (BPA20: 20mg/kg-d; BPA.05: 0.05 mg/kg-d) and at PND85 the rats were bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX). At PND100, OVX-rats received estradiol alone or estradiol and progesterone to evaluate estrogen-dependent gene expression in the hypothalamus and sexual behavior. In BPA-exposed females, estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) expression was down-regulated in both the medial preoptic (MPN) and ventromedial nucleus (VMHvl), while repressor of estrogen receptor activity (REA) expression was up-regulated in the VMHvl. Interestingly, BPA-exposed females displayed significantly lower levels of proceptive behavior. Our results show that BPA permanently alters the hypothalamic estrogen-dependent mechanisms that govern sexual behavior in the adult female rat.
Monje
L
L
Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Tumores Hormonodependientes, School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Casilla de Correo 242, (3000) Santa Fe, Argentina.
Varayoud
J
J
Muñoz-de-Toro
M
M
Luque
E H
EH
Ramos
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004958:Estradiol; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D010636:Phenols; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds