Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Comparative assessment of the effects of prenatal exposures to bisphenol A (BPA) and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on testicular development in male rats

9^th Biotechnology Congress

August 31-September 02, 2015 Orlando,Florida, USA

Olukunle Johnny O, Abdel-Maksoud, Fatma M, Akingbemi and Benson T

Auburn University, USA

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Biotechnol Biomater

Abstract:

The industrial chemicals bisphenol A (BPA) and di (ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are widely used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and other consumer products. BPA and DEHP are known to possess hormonal activity, thereby raising concerns that exposure of the population to them may lead to adverse effects on reproductive health. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of prenatal exposures to BPA and DEHP on testicular development. Timed pregnant Long-Evans dams were gavaged with BPA at 2.5 or 5 and DEHP at 5 or 50 μg/kg body weight from gestational day 12 to parturition at day 21. Male weanling rats were assessed at 21, 35 and 90 days post-partum. Therefore, expression of estrogen receptors 1 and 2, androgen receptor and the aromatase enzyme were analyzed using Western blotting procedures and Densitometry. Differences between groups were determined by one-way ANOVA and post-hoc analysis using the Dunnett�??s test or the student�??s T-test for two groups. Results showed that expression of ESR1 in testes of pre-pubertal rats at 21 days of age was not affected by exposure to test chemicals in utero (P>0.05) but the levels were decreased at 35 days of age (P<0.05). In contrast, expression of ESR1, ESR2, AR and aromatase were increased in testes of adult rats at 90 days of age (P<0.05). Inhibition and increased expression of cognate receptors for steroid hormones and the enzyme aromatase at all stages of development have the potential to alter the developmental trajectory for testicular development and affect the capacity for steroid hormone production and germ cell development. These observations support our previous observations and other reports demonstrating that the testis is a major target for endocrine disrupting chemicals such as BPA and DEHP.

Biography :

Email: drfaks@yahoo.com