Abstract
Inhibition of testicular steroidogenesis by the xenoestrogen bisphenol A is associated with reduced pituitary luteinizing hormone secretion and decreased steroidogenic enzyme gene expression in rat Leydig cells (PDF)
Akingbemi,Benson T.; Sottas,Chantal M.; Koulova,Anna I.; Klinefelter,Gary R.; Hardy,Matthew P.
Endocrinology 145(2): 592-603
Publication date: 2004
Exposure of humans to bisphenol A (BPA), a monomer in polycarbonateplastics and a constituent of resins used in food packagingand dentistry, is significant. In this report exposure of ratsto 2.4 µg/kg·d (a dose that approximates BPA levelsin the environment) from postnatal d 21-35 suppressedserum LH (0.21 ± 0.05 ng/ml; vs. control, 0.52 ±0.04; P < 0.01) and testosterone (T) levels (1.62 ±0.16 ng/ml; vs. control, 2.52 ± 0.21; P < 0.05), inassociation with decreased LHß and increased estrogenreceptor ß pituitary mRNA levels as measured by RT-PCR.Treatment of adult Leydig cells with 0.01 nM BPA decreased Tbiosynthesis by 25% as a result of decreased expression of thesteroidogenic enzyme 17-hydroxylase/17-20 lyase. BPA decreasedserum 17ß-estradiol levels from 0.31 ± 0.02ng/ml (control) to 0.22 ± 0.02, 0.19 ± 0.02, and0.23 ± 0.03 ng/ml in rats exposed to 2.4 µg, 10µg, or 100 mg/kg·d BPA, respectively, from 21-35d of age (P < 0.05) due to its ability to inhibit Leydigcell aromatase activity. Exposures of pregnant and nursing dams,i.e. from gestation d 12 to postnatal d 21, decreased T levelsin the testicular interstitial fluid from 420 ± 34 (control)to 261 ± 22 (P < 0.05) ng/ml in adulthood, implyingthat the perinatal period is a sensitive window of exposureto BPA. As BPA has been measured in several human populations,further studies are warranted to assess the effects of BPA onmale fertility.
What's New
For 60 years, the Population Council has changed the way the world thinks about important health and development issues. Explore an interactive timeline of the Council's history, learn more about some of our key contributions, and watch a short video about why your support is so important to us.
Get Involved
- Make a contribution to the Population Council
- Honor a loved one with a gift in his or her name
- Sign up to receive e-mail announcements








