[Long-term effects of neonatal exposure to bisphenol A on testes structure and the expression of Boule in testes of male mice].

Objective: To investigate the long-term effects and the mechanism of neonatal bisphenol A( BPA) exposure on mouse testicular structure and Boule expression.

Methods: A total of 12 pregnant ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups:blank control group, negative control group( corn oil) and BPA 100 μg/kg group. After delivery, BPA was given daily by neck subcutaneous injection to the offspring male mice from postnatal day( PND 1) to PND 21. The offspring male mice were sacrificed on PND35 and PND 70. Morphological changes of testes were detected with hematoxylin-eosin staining, the level of Boule mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR, the expression of Boule protein was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting.

Results: Compared with blank control group and negative control group, the diameter and the epithelium thickness of seminiferous epithelium in the same period( PND 35, PND 70)were significantly decreased and the lumen was significantly increased( P < 0. 05) in the testes of BPA( 100 μg/kg) group. In addition, the expressions of Boule mRNA and protein were decreased remarkably( P < 0. 05, P < 0. 01) in testes of BPA 100 μg/kg group.

Conclusion: Neonatal BPA exposure has a long-term effect on mouse testicular development and may affect testicular development by decreasing the expression of Boule mRNA and protein in testes.