In Vivo Effects of Bisphenol a on the Polecat ( Mustela Putorius )

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental estrogen derived from the plastic industry, was given orally via incorporation into the food of 30 male and female polecats at 3 different doses (10, 50, or 250 mg/kg body weight/day) for 2 wk with 10 animals acting as controls. Several hormone levels in the plasma were determined as well as the activities of the phase I and II biotransformation enzymes 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST), and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT). BPA did not cause any macroscopic effects on body mass or the health of the animals. UDPGT and GST activities increased significantly in direct correlation with increasing BPA exposure in females and UDPGT increased in a dose-related manner in males. There was no change in the plasma T4 and testosterone concentrations of the males with increasing BPA exposure. Discriminant analysis indicated that the group receiving 10 mg BPA/kg body weight/d was not different from the control group but the groups receiving 50 and 250 mg/kg body weight/d were different from the control group. This suggests physiological changes in the groups receiving 50 or 250 mg BPA/kg body weight/d.

Maternal Urinary Bisphenol A during Pregnancy and Maternal and Neonatal Thyroid Function in the CHAMACOS Study

“…In addition to binding and activating the TR (Moriyama et al 2002), BPA has been shown to induce UDP-GT activity in European polecats (Nieminen et al 2002). Since UDP-GT regulates the rate-limiting step in T 4 metabolism in rats and presumably in humans, induction of this enzyme could underlie the reduction in T 4 observed in this study.…”

“…The studies by Zoeller et al (2005) and Xu et al (2007) found effects at the lowest doses administered (1 mg/kg body weight and 0.1 mg/L drinking water, respectively). Studies conducted in nonpregnant animals generally found no effect of BPA on thyroid hormone levels (Nieminen et al 2002; Seidlova-Wuttke et al 2005). …”

Gestational urinary bisphenol A and maternal and newborn thyroid hormone concentrations: The HOME Study

“…In vitro and rodent studies report inconsistent effects (Nieminen et al, 2002a; Nieminen et al, 2002b; Xu et al, 2007; Zoeller et al, 2005) and epidemiological studies, which have predominately been cross-sectional, have also been equivocal. Two studies from China reported that occupational exposure to BPA exposure was associated with elevated FT 3 and FT 4 and reduced TSH concentrations (Wang et al, 2012; Wang et al, 2013).…”

NTP‐CERHR expert panel report on the reproductive and developmental toxicity of bisphenol A

“…Nieminen et al (2002a), support not indicated, examined the effects of bisphenol A [purity not indicated] exposure on hormone levels in the European polecat (Mustela putorius). There were no significant effects on plasma levels of testosterone, estradiol, FSH, or thyroid hormones.…”

“…4.2.1.3 Other mammals: Nieminen et al (2002a), support not indicated, examined the effects of bisphenol A exposure on hormone levels in the European polecat (Mustela putorius). Five animals/group/sex [age not reported] were administered bisphenol A [purity not reported] in feed at concentrations providing doses of 0, 10, 50, or 250 mg/kg bw/day for 2 weeks.…”