Effects ofexposure to bisphenol A in utero on ovarian steroid hormone synthesis in female offspring rats

Objective To study the effects of exposure to bisphenol A(BPA)on ovarian steroid hormone synthesis in female offspring rats.Methods 20 pregnant rats were randomly divided into four groups.The rats were gavaged respectively at 0,10,50 and 250mg/(kg·d)from days 5to 20 of gestation.The female offsprings were killed at 10-weeks,when they were determined at diestrous stage.The levels of folliclestimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),progesterone(P4),estradiol(E2)and testosterone(T)in serum were determined by ELISA method.The gene expressions of ovarian steroid hormones acute regulatory protein(StAR),cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme(P450scc),3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase(3β-HSD),cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase(P450 17α),17βhydroxy steroid dehydrogenase(17β-HSD)and aromatase(P450arom)were measured using real-time PCR.Results BPA(50and 250mg/kg)exposure in utero significantly incresaed body weight from PND 28 to 36.The gene expressions of 17β-HSD were significantly decreased at BPA groups compared with the control group(P0.05).And The gene expressions of P450 arom at 50 and 250mg/kg BPA groups increased significantly compared with the control group.Levels of T were significantly decreased(P 0.05)at BPA groups compared with the control group.Levels of LH,FSH and E2 were significantly reduced(P 0.05)at 50 and 250 mg/kg BPA groups.Conclusions BPA exposure in utero could affect the gene expression of ovarian steroid hormone synthesis enzymes in female offspring rats,and affect steroid hormone synthesis.As a result,BPA exposure in utero could affect the function of thalamus-pituitary-ovary axis.