Maternal bisphenol a exposure promotes the development of experimental asthma in mouse pups.
BACKGROUND
We recently reported that various environmental estrogens induce mast cell degranulation and enhance IgE-mediated release of allergic mediators in vitro.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that environmental estrogens would enhance allergic sensitization as well as bronchial inflammation and responsiveness. To test this hypothesis, we exposed fetal and neonatal mice to the common environmental estrogen bisphenol A (BPA) via maternal loading and assessed the pups' response to allergic sensitization and bronchial challenge.


METHODS
Female BALB/c mice received 10 microg/mL BPA in their drinking water from 1 week before impregnation to the end of the study. Neonatal mice were given a single 5 microg intraperitoneal dose of ovalbumin (OVA) with aluminum hydroxide on postnatal day 4 and 3% OVA by nebulization for 10 min on days 13, 14, and 15. Forty-eight hours after the last nebulization, we assessed serum IgE antibodies to OVA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness by enumerating eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, whole-body barometric plethysmography, and a forced oscillation technique.


RESULTS
Neonates from BPA-exposed mothers responded to this "suboptimal" sensitization with higher serum IgE anti-OVA concentrations compared with those from unexposed mothers (p < 0.05), and eosinophilic inflammation in their airways was significantly greater. Airway responsiveness of the OVA-sensitized neonates from BPA-treated mothers was enhanced compared with those from unexposed mothers (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Perinatal exposure to BPA enhances allergic sensitization and bronchial inflammation and responsiveness in a susceptible animal model of asthma.
Midoro-Horiuti
Terumi
T
Department of Pediatrics, Child Health Research Center, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0366, USA.
Tiwari
Ruby
R
Watson
Cheryl S
CS
Goldblum
Randall M
RM
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000139:chemically induced; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010636:Phenols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D010636:Phenols; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds