Pre-natal exposure of mice to bisphenol A elicits an endometriosis-like phenotype in female offspring

Signorile PG, Pietro G. Signorile, Enrico P. Spugnini, Spugnini EP, Mita L, Luigi Mita, Pasquale Mellone, Mellone P, Alfredo D'Avino, D'Avino A, Alfredo D’Avino, Bianco M, Mariangela Bianco, Nadia Diano, Caputo L, Lucia Caputo, Francesca Rea, Rea F, Viceconte R, Rosa Viceconte, Marianna Portaccio, Emanuela Viggiano, Gennaro Citro, Citro G, Riccardo Pierantoni, Vincenzo Sica, Sica V, Bruno Vincenzi, D.G. Mita, Damiano G Mita, Mita DG, Baldi F, Feliciano Baldi, Alfonso Baldi, Baldi A
General and comparative endocrinology · 2010 · vol. 168(3) , pp. 318–325 · doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2010.03.030 · PMID:20350546 · W2107802751
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Prenatal bisphenol A exposure in mice induced an endometriosis-like condition in female offspring, characterized by peritoneal lesions, inflammation, and pain.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Exposure to endocrine disruptors during critical period of development causes long-lasting effects, being the genital system one of the targets. This study describes the effects on female genital system caused by developmental exposure to the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) during pre- and peri-natal development in mice. To this end, timed pregnant Balb-C mice were treated from day 1 of gestation to 7 days after delivery with BPA (100, or 1000 microg/kg/day). After delivery, pups were held for 3 months; then, pelvic organs were analyzed in their entirety and livers of both pups and moms were studied for the presence of BPA. We found in the adipose tissue surrounding the genital tracts of a consistent number of treated animals, endometriosis-like structure with the presence of both glands and stroma and expressing both estrogen receptor and HOXA-10. Moreover, cystic ovaries, adenomatous hyperplasia with cystic endometrial hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia were significantly more frequent in treated animals respect to the controls. Finally, BPA was found in the livers of exposed moms and female offspring. In conclusion, we describe for the first time an endometriosis-like phenotype in mice, elicited by pre-natal exposition to BPA. This observation may induce to thoroughly reconsider the pathogenesis and treatment of endometriosis, considering the high incidence of endometriosis and the problems caused by associated infertility.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Phenols Animals Benzhydryl Compounds Bisphenol A Compounds Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Genitalia, Female Genitalia, Female Genitalia, Female Immunohistochemistry Mice Mice, Inbred BALB C Phenols Phenols Pregnancy Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects Uterus

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