Effects of the long-term influence of bisphenol A and bisphenol S on the population of nitrergic neurons in the enteric nervous system of the mouse stomach

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor commonly used in the production of plastics. Due to its relatively well-known harmful effects on living organisms, BPA is often replaced by its various analogues. One of them is bisphenol S (BPS), widely used in the plastics industry. Until recently, BPS was considered completely safe, but currently, it is known that it is not safe for various internal organs. However, knowledge about the influence of BPS on the nervous system is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of two doses of BPA and BPS on the enteric nitrergic neurons in the CD1 strain mouse stomach using the double-immunofluorescence technique. The study found that both substances studied increased the number of nitrergic neurons, although changes under the impact of BPS were less visible than those induced by BPA. Therefore, the obtained results, for the first time, clearly indicate that BPS is not safe for the innervation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Changes Caused by Bisphenols in the Chemical Coding of Neurons of the Enteric Nervous System of Mouse Stomach

“…In turn, the results obtained in the previous studies, in which the influence of BPA and BPS on nitrergic enteric neurons in the stomach has been noted [ 17 ], have been confirmed by this study. Namely, the present results show that the changes noted in the number of VIP neurons are generally similar to those noted in the case of nitrergic neurons, which results from the fact that both substances have similar roles in the regulation of the intestinal motility and usually colocalize in the same neurons [ 23 ].…”

“…The discrepancies may result, first of all, from significant disparities in the anatomy of the stomach between the mouse and domestic pig, as well as the differences in the organization of the ENS. It should be underlined that the interspecies differences in the organization of the ENS and the neurochemical characterization of the enteric neurons are commonly known [ 11 , 17 , 23 ].…”

“…The current knowledge about the effect of BPS on the enteric nervous system is even more limited. It is known that BPS may affect the ENS in the mouse colon [ 32 ] and change the number of nitrergic enteric neurons in the stomach [ 17 ]. Comparing the results of previous studies to this investigation, differences in the effects of bisphenols on the ENS between the stomach and the colon can be found [ 32 ].…”

“…The knowledge of the bisphenol impact on the digestive system is relatively scant [ 1 , 2 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], and the least is known about the effects of these substances on the ENS located in the gastric wall. Namely, in the light of previous studies, it is only known that BPA may affect the enteric neurons in the stomach of the domestic pig [ 16 ], and BPA and BPS change the number of nitrergic neurons in the gastric wall in mice [ 17 ], but the influence of these substances on other population of neurons in the gastric ENS in the rodents is unknown.…”