[Effect of vitamin E on reproductive functions and anti-oxidant activity of adolescent male mice exposed to bisphenol A].

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on reproductive functions and oxidative stress in adolescent male mice, and to explore the effect of high dose vitamin E on reproductive functions and oxidative stress induced by BPA.

METHODS

Thirty-two kunming male mice aged 4 -5 weeks were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (gavaged with corn oil 0.2 ml/d, n = 10), BPA group (gavaged with BPA 0.5 mg/kg BW, n = 11), and vitamin E intervention group (gavaged with BPA 0.5 mg/kg BW and vitamin E 150mg/kg BW, n = 11). All animals were sacrificed 3 weeks later and blood and tissue samples were collected.

RESULTS

The wet weight of testis in BPA group, the wet weight and organ coefficient of spermatophore, and counts of sperm in BPA and vitamin E intervention groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the organ coefficient of spermatophore in vitamin E intervention group was significantly higher than BPA group (P < 0.05). The rates of teratosperm in BPA and vitamin E intervention groups were significant higher than the control group (P < 0.05), and the activity ratio of sperm in BPA group was significantly lower than those in the control and vitamin E intervention groups (P < 0.05). The SOD activities of liver tissue in both BPA and vitamin E intervention groups and CAT activity in BPA group were significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05). The serum testosterone level in BPA group was lower than the control and vitamin E intervention group without significant difference.

CONCLUSION

Short-term BPA exposure may partly inhibit the reproductive function in adolescent male mice with certain stimulating effect on antioxidant ability, and supplementation of vitamin E during BPA exposure may have certain protective effect on reproductive inhibition caused by BPA exposure.