title: Bisphenol A exposure during adulthood causes augmentation of follicular atresia and luteal regression by decreasing 17β-estradiol synthesis via downregulation of aromatase in rat ovary.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bisphenol A (BPA) has been detected in human body fluids, such as serum and ovarian follicular fluids. Several reports indicated that BPA exposure is associated with the occurrence of several female reproductive diseases resulting from the disruption of steroid hormone biosynthesis in the adult ovary.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that long-term exposure to low concentrations of BPA disrupts 17β-estradiol (E2) production in granulosa cells via an alteration of steroidogenic proteins in ovarian cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult female rats received BPA for 90 days by daily gavage at doses of 0, 0.001, or 0.1 mg/kg body weight. We determined serum levels of E2, testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). We also analyzed the expressions of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isomerase (3β-HSD), and aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom) in the ovary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure to BPA significantly decreased E2 serum concentration, which was accompanied by augmented follicular atresia and luteal regression via increase of caspase-3-associated apoptosis in ovarian cells. After BPA exposure, P450arom and StAR protein levels were significantly decreased in granulosa cells and theca-interstitial (T-I) cells, respectively. However, P450scc and 3β-HSD protein levels remained unchanged. The increase in LH levels appeared to be associated with the decreased synthesis of T in T-I cells after BPA exposure via homeostatic positive feedback regulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BPA exposure during adulthood can disturb the maintenance of normal ovarian functions by reducing E2. The steroidogenic proteins StAR and P450arom appear to be targeted by BPA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Gee
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Yoon-Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seunghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Yong-Dal
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ki Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Young Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Jong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005496:Follicular Atresia / Q000187:drug effects*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D003341:Luteolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001141:Aromatase; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D010636:Phenols; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds