Influence of bisphenol a on developing rat estrogen receptors and some cytokines in rats: a two-generational study

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical with estrogenic activity. In our study, 40 rats were given BPA at 4, 40, and 400 mg/kg per day. Controls were treated with corn oil of same volume until the offspring were 30 d olds. At the end of the experiment, the expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and the mRNA levels of inerleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in spleens were investigated by Western blotting and real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The histopathological change of organs was observed. The results showed that bisphenol A reduced the expression of ER-alpha in males of the high-dose group in the F(0) generation and in middle- and high-dose groups of the F(1) generation (p < .05), but increased it in females in the high-dose group of the F(0) generation and in middle- and high-dose groups of the F(1) generation (p < .05). The levels of IL-2, IL-12, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha in spleens were downregulated in all groups in contrast to controls (p < .05). We also found some histological changes in spleens, livers, and kidneys. These findings demonstrated that bisphenol A has estrogen-like activity and might affect some immune organs and parameters.