title: Bisphenol-A exposure during the period of blastocyst implantation alters uterine morphology and perturbs measures of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression in mice.
abstract: Bisphenol-A (BPA) has estrogenic properties both in vitro and in vivo. We investigated its impacts upon uterine morphology and estrogen and progesterone receptors after injection on gestational days 1-4 in doses known to disrupt pregnancy. Blastocyst implantation was significantly reduced by doses of 6.75 and 10.125 mg/animal. Uterine luminal area expanded substantially in response to increasing doses of BPA. Luminal epithelial cell height increased following exposure to 10.125 mg/animal, whereas there were no differences in the number of corpora lutea among conditions. The proportion of cells staining positively for estrogen receptors was affected non-monotonically, showing highest levels at 3.375 mg/animal and lowest levels at 10.125 mg/animal. Similarly progesterone receptor expression measured through western blots related non-monotonically to dose, being highest at 3.375 mg/animal and diminishing with increasing dose. These results suggest that BPA exposure during early gestation acts at the uterus to disrupt intrauterine implantation, consistent with an estrogenic effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Warren G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Denys
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: deCatanzaro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016014:Linear Models; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D007781:Lactoferrin; D010636:Phenols; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds