Preconception paternal bisphenol A exposure induces sex-specific anxiety and depression behaviors in adult rats

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental endocrine-disrupting compound, has drawn a great attention for its adverse effect on behavioral development. Maternal exposure to this compound has been reported to induce anxiety and depression in offspring, but the effect of its paternal exposure is rarely discussed. This study investigated whether preconception paternal BPA exposure can affect the emotions of male rats and their offspring. Eighteen adult male rats (F0) received either a vehicle or 50 μg/kg/day BPA diet for 21 weeks and were then mated with non-exposed females to produce offspring (F1). The affective behaviors of F0 and F1 rats were evaluated in the open-field test, the elevated-plus maze and the forced swimming test, and their serum corticosterone were then examined. BPA exposure induced increased anxiety behaviors along with increased serum corticosterone in F0 rats. This paternal exposure also led to increased anxiety behaviors in F1 females and aggravated depression behaviors in both sexes of F1 rats. Furthermore, only F1 females exhibited increased serum corticosterone. Overall, these data indicate that preconception paternal exposure to a low dose of BPA may induce transgenerational sex-specific impairments in the affection of adult rats.

Intergenerational Effects of Alcohol: A Review of Paternal Preconception Ethanol Exposure Studies and Epigenetic Mechanisms in the Male Germline

“…Furthermore, numerous paternal chronic stress paradigms reshape physiological and behavioral stress vulnerability across generations (Dietz et al., ; Gapp et al., ; Rodgers et al., ; Short et al., ) and paternal cocaine exposure alters cocaine preference and hippocampal‐dependent memory in male offspring (Le et al., ; Vassoler et al., ; Wimmer et al., ). Other paternal conditions with cross‐generational effects in rodents include exposures to environmental toxicants such as bisphenol A (Fan et al., ) as well as exposures to beneficial conditions such as enriched housing (Yeshurun et al., ) or free access to a running wheel (Short et al., ). As rodent sires are not involved in offspring gestation or rearing in these studies, the contribution of the father to offspring development is likely restricted to the germline.…”

Effects of a Plastic-Free Lifestyle on Urinary Bisphenol A Levels in School-Aged Children of Southern Italy: A Pilot Study

“…Several recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated a correlation between urinary BPA levels and obesity (55,56). Moreover, as previously described, the exposure to BPA can induce adverse effects on neurological control, suggesting an involvement in behavior management (57)(58)(59). A very recent study performed on obese subjects demonstrated a reduction in most phthalate levels after a dietary intervention (60).…”

Effects of maternal bisphenol A diglycidyl ether exposure during gestation and lactation on behavior and brain development of the offspring

“…Therefore, examination of effects of maternal exposure to epoxy resin on offspring has been focused (Golub et al, 2010). Indeed, numerous experiments using animal models have reported that gestational BPA exposure induces behavioral alteration: hyperactivity, anxiety-and depression-like behaviors (Braun et al, 2011;Cox et al, 2010;Fan et al, 2018;Komada et al, 2014;Luo et al, 2013;Nakamura et al, 2012). Causality of early BPA exposure and behavioral change has been supported by observations in humans (Braun et al, 2011;Braun et al, 2009;Evans et al, 2014;Perera et al, 2012).…”