Exposure of BPA and its alternatives like BPB, BPF, and BPS impair subsequent reproductive potentials in adult female Sprague Dawley rats

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) and its alternatives are extensively used in household and industrial products. BPA and its alternatives have affinity for estrogen receptors and mimic its actions. The present study aims to examine the comparative effects of BPA and its alternatives bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol S (BPS) on the reproductive health in adult female rats. One hundred and seventy post-weaning female rats (90 ± 25) were divided into 17 groups and assigned for different treatments. Control and treated groups were injected with concentrations of 50–500 µg/ml and 5–50 mg/kg of BPA, BPB, BPF, and BPS for 28 days. The results showed adverse morphological and histopathological alterations in rat ovaries in all treated groups. A remarkable decrease was observed in antral and corpus luteum follicles while rise in atretic and cystic follicles in the ovaries of BPA and its alternatives 5 and 50 mg/kg treated groups when compared with control. Significant decrease in catalase (CAT), super oxidase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) levels was noted while increase in the values of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (T-BARS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed when BPA and its alternatives groups were compared with the control. Hormones were also observed with alterations in their concentrations when treated groups were compared with the control. The current data suggest that BPA and its alternatives exposure during the pre-pubertal stage have the potential to induce oxidative stress and histopathological changes during follicular development in female rats.