Effects of Bisphenol A on Testosterone Levels and Sexual Behaviors of Male Mice

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on testosterone levels and sexual behaviors of male mice. Methods: Forty 12-week-old male mice, 22 -25 g, were randomly allocated into four equal groups (n = 10 per group): the control group and three BPA exposure groups including low concentration group (10 mg/kg), middle concentration group (50 mg/kg) and high concentration group (100 mg/kg). Each mouse received BPA intraperitoneally injected for 21 consecutive days. Sexual behaviors and testosterone levels in serum and interstitial tissue of testis were measured after the last administration of BPA. Furthermore, we also observed the weights of sexual organs of each group, including testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle. Results: The mount latency in the high concentration group, the intromission latency in the middle and the high concentration group were 11.64 ± 2.67 min, 20.28 ± 3.40 min and 20.13 ± 2.06 min respectively. All of them were longer than the control group (all P < 0.05). The mount frequency, intromission frequency and copulatory efficacy in the high concentration group were 0.52 ± 0.15 numbers/min, 0.37 ± 0.12 numbers/min and 0.40 ± 0.03, which were all statistically lower than the control group (all P < 0.05). The average testis weights in the low, middle and high concentration group were 0.198 ± 0.032 g, 0.203 ± 0.037g and 0.183 ± 0.032 g, and the relative testis weight in the high concentration group was 0.637 ± 0.106. All of these data were lower than the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The epididymis weight and the relative epididymis weight, the weight of seminal vesicle and the relative weight of seminal vesicle were 0.069 ± 0.010 g, 0.242 ± 0.040, 0.219 ± 0.042 g and 0.760 ± 0.143, and all of them were lower than the control group (all P < 0.05). The serum testosterone levels in the high concentration group, the intratesticular testosterone levels in the middle and the high concentration group were 7.88 ± 1.62 ng/ml, 75.5 ± 7.18 ng/g and 73.00 ± 9.57 ng/g, which were all lower than the control group (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: BPA can decline the testosterone levels in mice and inhibit their sexual behaviors.Open Access Z. J. Zang et al. 42

Antioxidant activity of selenium on bisphenol-induced apoptosis and testicular toxicity of rats

“…Endocrine disrupting chemicals are defined as any exogenous agents that can interfere with the synthesis, metabolism, and action of endogenous hormones (Phillips et al, 2008). Zang et al (2016) reported that BPA affects the functioning of the reproductive system and leads to infertility in male mice. The present study's results indicated that exposing rats to BPA caused a significant abnormality in their sexual hormone levels.…”

“…Furthermore, recent work showed that BPA significantly reduced both SOD and CAT system activity as well as oxidised glutathione (H 2 O 2 ) generation and lipid peroxidation (Eid et al, 2015). More recently, the plasma testosterone levels and testis weight were found decreased by BPA in association with morphological alterations and changes in sperm count and motility (Zang et al, 2016).…”

“…The toxicity and side effects of BPA have been investigated through experimental animal studies, and high BPA concentrations are now associated with a variety of adverse human health issues . For example, in mice, BPA reportedly affects the male reproduction system, by causing noticeable structural changes in the histological architecture of the testes (Aikawa et al, 2004;Zang et al, 2016). Even a low-dose exposure to BPA may lead to a reduction in spermatogenesis of male rats (Akingbemi et al, 2004; *Corresponding author.…”

Zinc deficient diet increases the toxicity of bisphenol A in rat testis

“…High concentration group more decrease in testes, epididymis and seminal vesicle weight. [64] 21 consecutive days Epididymis and seminal vesicle Serum and intratesticular testosterone levels were lowered.…”

Effects of bisphenol A and its analogs on reproductive health: A mini review

“…BPA at an extremely high dose (300 mg/kg) significantly increased serum thyroxine (T4) levels without changes in serum triiodothyronine (T3) and FSH levels [23]. BPA exposure was reported to decrease serum T levels in Swiss albino and C57BL/6 mice, but these doses varied between 0.5 μg/kg to 100 mg/kg [151, 152]. Additionally, Sadowski et al reported that Long-Evans rats exposed to low-dose BPA showed a decrease in FSH levels at weaning [65].…”