Low-dose bisphenol A does not affect reproductive organs in estrogen-sensitive C57BL/6N mice exposed at the sexually mature, juvenile, or embryonic stage

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used on a large scale in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics. BPA has been shown to bind weakly to both estrogen receptor (ER) α and ER β. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-dose BPA on male sexual development after exposure at various stages of development. Mice of the estrogen-sensitive strain C57BL/6N were exposed to BPA orally at doses of 2, 20, or 200 μg/kg at various stages, i.e. adulthood, the immature stage just after weaning, or the embryonic/fetal stage, to evaluate the effects of low-dose BPA on male reproductive organs. Body weight changes, weights of reproductive organs (testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles), cauda epididymal sperm density, and histology of reproductive organs including the ventral prostate were not affected by exposure to BPA at any dose examined. The results of this study indicate that exposure of estrogen-sensitive C57BL/6N mice to low-dose BPA did not reduce sperm density or disrupt development of the male reproductive organs.