Perinatal and postnatal exposure to bisphenol a increases adipose tissue mass and serum cholesterol level in mice.

AIM

To investigate whether the perinatal and postnatal exposure of mice to bisphenol A (BPA) caused the development of obesity and/or hyperlipidemia.

METHODS

Pregnant mice were exposed to BPA in drinking water at concentrations of either 1 microg/mL (LD group) or 10 microg/mL (HD group) from gestation day 10 and throughout the lactating period. After weaning, the pups were allowed free access to drinking water containing the appropriate concentrations of BPA. The body weight, adipose tissue weight, and serum lipid levels were measured in the offspring at postnatal day 31.

RESULTS

In females, the mean body weight increased by 13% in the LD group (p<0.05) and 11% in the HD group (p<0.05) compared with the control group. The mean adipose tissue weight increased by 132% in the LD group (p<0.01). The mean total cholesterol level increased by 33% in the LD group (p<0.01) and 17% in the HD group (p<0.05). In males, the mean body weight and mean adipose tissue weight increased by 22% (p<0.01) and 59% (p<0.01), respectively, in the HD group compared with the control group. The mean triacylglycerol level increased by 34% in the LD group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The continuous exposure of mice to BPA during the perinatal and postnatal periods caused the development of obesity and hyperlipidemia.