ABSTRACT
Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical synthesized by condensation of two phenol groups and one acetone molecule. Sources of exposure to bisphenol A including food especially canned food, dust, papers especially thermal because it comes with food or due to recycling with other types of paper, dental materials, medical devices and healthcare applications. In rodents and primates, as well as humans, orally administered bisphenol A is rapidly and efficiently (95% of dose) absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism in the gut wall and in the liver. During this first-pass metabolism, biotransformation of bisphenol A to bishenol A – glucuronide is the major pathway of BPA metabolism.
Objective: To demonstrate the possible chronic toxic effect (biochemical & histopathological) of Bisphenol A on ovaries, uterus and vagina of adult female albino rats.
Materials and methods: The present study was conducted at the Animal House (Assiut University), and Departments of Forensic Medicine & Clinical Toxicology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt. The study followed the research ethics and standard protocol of dealing with animal. This research has been conducted on one hundred adult healthy female albino rats of a local strain weighing 100 – 120, during the period from April 2018 to May 2019.
Results: The chronic BPA exposure affected the pituitary gland, ovaries uterus and vagina of adult female albino rats. This effect appeared as significant statistical decrease in the total body weight of the rats. Biochemical examination revealed significant statistical decrease in serum levels of Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH) and Estrogen. In addition, histopathological examination showed changes in the pituitary gland (cells showed disturbance in their architecture, hemorrhage and necrosis), ovary (disruption of the Graafian follicles, atretic follicles, dilated congested blood vessels and hemorrhage), uterus (severe degeneration and necrosis of the surface epithelium, leukocytic infiltration in the interstitial tissue, cystic dilation of endometrial glands, hyperplasia of endometrial epithelium and leukocytic infiltration with vacuolar degeneration in endometrial epithelium), and vagina (severe keratinization, epithelial atrophy, in addition to focal patches of decreasing of epithelial lining) when stained by hematoxylin and eosin stain then examined by light microscope.
Conclusion: The previous results proved the chronic toxic effects of BPA on the female reproductive system. So, the exposure to BPA that present in plastic containers and other products produces toxic effect on the reproductive health of females.