Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Determination of the Transport Rate of Xenobiotics and Nanomaterials Across the Placenta using the ex vivo Human Placental Perfusion Model
Published on: June 18, 2013
Transfer of bisphenol A across the human placenta
Biju Balakrishnan1, Kimiora Henare, Eric B Thorstensen
1Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Objective:
The objective of the investigation was to study placental transfer and conjugation of bisphenol A (BPA) across the human placenta.
Study Design:
Human placentae obtained from healthy term singleton pregnancies were utilized in a dual recirculating model of ex vivo placental perfusion. Seven placentae were perfused with BPA (10 ng/mL) added to the maternal perfusate for 180 minutes. Antipyrine and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran were used as positive and negative controls, respectively, to validate integrity of the circuits. Concentrations of BPA and its conjugates were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Results:
The transfer percentage for antipyrine and BPA were 25.5 +/- 1.13% and 27.0 +/- 1.88%, respectively, and the transfer index for BPA was 1.1 +/- 0.09 after 180 minutes of perfusion. Only 3.2 +/- 1.6% of BPA in the fetal compartment was in the conjugated form.
Conclusion:
Bisphenol A at low environmentally relevant levels can transfer across the human placenta, mainly in active unconjugated form.
More Related Videos
07:08Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
08:28Assessment of the Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds on the Development of Vertebrate Neural Network Function Using Multi-electrode Arrays
Published on: April 26, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Transcytosis of IgG
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
Teratogenicity
Physiological Barriers
The blood endothelial barrier is the most porous of these. It allows all small ionized, un-ionized, and lipophilic molecules to pass through the endothelial lining into the interstitial space...
Bioplastics