Micronucleus assay in bovine lymphocytes after exposure to bisphenol A in vitro.

Bisphenol A (BPA) [2,2-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane] is an important industrial agent, made by combining acetone and phenol, that is used extensively as a monomer in the production of polycarbonate plastics and as a precursor of epoxy resins. Micronucleus assays have served as an index of cytogenetic damage in in vivo and in vitro studies. We studied the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of BPA on bovine peripheral lymphocytes in vitro. Lymphocyte cultures from two donors were exposed to four different concentrations of BPA (1 × 10(-4), 1 × 10(-5), 1 × 10(-6), and 1 × 10(-7) mol.L(-1)) for 48 h. The highest concentration of BPA (1 × 10(-4) mol.L(-1)) resulted in a significant increase in the number of micronuclei in comparison with the negative control (67.50 ± 2.121/1,000 binucleated cells versus 36.0 ± 5.657/1,000 binucleated cells in the DMSO control, P = 0.018). BPA did not affect the nuclear division index at any treatment concentrations. The present results thus demonstrate a significant genotoxic effect by BPA on bovine peripheral lymphocytes in vitro, only at the highest concentration.