Transfer of bisphenol A across the human placenta.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the investigation was to study placental transfer and conjugation of bisphenol A (BPA) across the human placenta.


METHODS
Human placentae obtained from healthy term singleton pregnancies were utilized in a dual recirculating model of ex vivo placental perfusion. Seven placentae were perfused with BPA (10 ng/mL) added to the maternal perfusate for 180 minutes. Antipyrine and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran were used as positive and negative controls, respectively, to validate integrity of the circuits. Concentrations of BPA and its conjugates were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
The transfer percentage for antipyrine and BPA were 25.5 +/- 1.13% and 27.0 +/- 1.88%, respectively, and the transfer index for BPA was 1.1 +/- 0.09 after 180 minutes of perfusion. Only 3.2 +/- 1.6% of BPA in the fetal compartment was in the conjugated form.


CONCLUSIONS
Bisphenol A at low environmentally relevant levels can transfer across the human placenta, mainly in active unconjugated form.
Balakrishnan
Biju
B
Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Henare
Kimiora
K
Thorstensen
Eric B
EB
Ponnampalam
Anna P
AP
Mitchell
Murray D
MD
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000983:Antipyrine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003911:Dextrans / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D020719:Glucuronides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010636:Phenols / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000983:Antipyrine; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D003911:Dextrans; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D020719:Glucuronides; D010636:Phenols; C512161:bisphenol A glucuronide; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds; C015219:fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran; C006780:bisphenol A