TITLE:
Placental Vascularization and Apoptosis in Rats Orally Exposed to Low Doses of Bisphenol A
AUTHORS:
Jacopo Troisi, Luigi Giugliano, Antonio D’Antonio, Andrea Viggiano, Rosaria Meccariello, Marika Scafuro, Marcellino Monda, Angelo Colucci, Giovanni Scala, Maria Cofano, Maurizio Guida
KEYWORDS:
Apoptosis, Bisphenol A, Intra Uterine Growth Restriction, Placenta, Placental Vascularization
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.8 No.11,
September
4,
2018
ABSTRACT: Aim: Exposure to the ubiquitous endocrine disrupter Bisphenol A (BPA) has
been associated, in pregnancy, with low birth weight. The aim of our study is
the identification of the damage caused by Bisphenol A on placental tissue
through the evaluation of its effects on micro-vessel density and apoptosis. Methods:
After fertilization, we exposed 3 female rats to oral BPA, by means of a free
access to a beverage solution containing 100 μg/L of BPA. Three female rats
were used as controls. Placentas underwent histological examination and
immunohistochemistry for von Willebr and factor (F-VIII) and caspase-9. Results:
Sixty-seven fetuses have been produced, 30 from control rats and 37 from
exposed rats. Exposed fetuses showed a lower longitudinal/transverse diameter ratio
than controls (2.57 ± 0.29 vs. 2.78 ± 0.38, p Conclusion:
Exposure to BPA during pregnancy may affect placental vascularization, and this
phenomenon may explain the lower birth weight reported. However, our results do
not show the increase in apoptosis observed in
vitro.