Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the highest production volume chemicals that is frequently used in consumer products based on polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins including children's toys, plastic bottles, plastic food containers, and medical equipment.
Objective: To demonstrate the possible chronic toxic effect (biochemical & histopathological) of bisphenol A on pituitary and thyroid glands of adult albino rats.
Material and Methods: One hundred adult healthy albino rats weighing 180 – 220 g were acquired from the animal house, Assiut University, Egypt. The animals were classified into five groups; group (1): ten adult albino rats, received normal feeding for three months, group (2): fifteen rats received 1 ml of the corn oil for three months, group (3): Twenty-five rats received BPA at a dose 80mg/kg/day orally for 3 months, Group (4): Twenty-five rats received BPA at a dose 160 mg/kg/day orally for 3 months, Group five: Twenty-five rats received BPA a dose 320mg/kg/day orally for 3 months.
Results: Bisphenol A has deleterious effects on the biochemical and histological structure of the pituitary and thyroid glands of albino rats. TSH, T4, and T3 demonstrated marked reduction in rats following 3 months of BPA exposure in comparison with non-BPA exposed rats. Bisphenol-treated group stained with H and E showed loss of normal thyroid architecture.
Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that BPA exposure seemed to have potentially toxic effects on thyroid as well as pituitary functions in terms of biochemical as well as histopathological levels.
Keywords: Bisphenol A; Pituitary; Thyroid.