The male mammary gland: a target for the xenoestrogen bisphenol A.
Males of some strains of mice retain their mammary epithelium even in the absence of nipples. Here, we have characterized the mammary gland in male CD-1 mice both in whole mounts and histological sections. We also examined the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen mimic that alters development of the female mouse mammary gland. BPA was administered at a range of environmentally relevant doses (0.25-250μg/kg/day) to pregnant and lactating mice and then the mammary glands of male offspring were examined at several periods in adulthood. We observed age- and dose-specific effects on mammary gland morphology, indicating that perinatal BPA exposures alter the male mammary gland in adulthood. These results may provide insight into gynecomastia, the most common male breast disease in humans, where proliferation of the mammary epithelium leads to breast enlargement.
Tufts University, Department of Biology, and Center for Regenerative & Developmental Biology, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4600, Medford, MA 02155, United States.
Laura N
LN
Vandenberg
Cheryl M
CM
Schaeberle
Beverly S
BS
Rubin
Carlos
C
Sonnenschein
Ana M
AM
Soto
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004967:Estrogens; D010636:Phenols; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds