The Ovary as a Target Organ for Bisphenol A Toxicity

Abstract

The ovary is a hormone-sensitive organ that produces steroid hormones. Recent studies show that bisphenol A (BPA) can affect female reproduction; thus, it is important to identify the possible toxic effects of BPA on the ovary because this organ is indispensable for fertility. This chapter summarises the effects of BPA on the ovary by describing how they directly affect folliculogenesis, steroidogenesis and receptor signalling and how they indirectly affect the expression of adipokines and/or their receptors, which exert endocrine or autocrine functions within the ovary.

Impact of Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Bisphenol A (BPA) on the Gene Expression Profile in an In Vitro Model of the Normal Human Ovary

“…Ten years ago, in a foetal rhesus monkey model, BPA exposure was shown to alter oogenesis and follicle formation [56]. Since then, a number of studies have argued that the human ovary can also be a target for endocrine disruption [57]. Our study provides a novel insight into the transcriptome changes at the ovarian level upon exposure to BPA.…”