TDK conference 2018

Investigation of endocrine parameters in autistic animal model induced by BPA

Szilvia Kuffa, Attila Magyar, Andrea Heinzlmann

Veterinary University, Department of Anatomy and Histology

Semmelweis University, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Developmental Biology

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a life-long disorder of neurocognitive development starts early in childhood. ASD primarily manifests in different behavioral problems including: social behavior disorder, decreased verbal and nonverbal communication, restrictive and repetitive movements. Genetic defects or other external factors could lead to ASD. Such external factors are drugs and partially industrial chemicals as bisphenol (BPA) which may induce ASD. BPA is a plastic emollient found in many plastic products such as in plastic food containers and plastic bottles. Commonly known that BPA has been dissolving from these products very slowly. BPA acts both on the developing and on the adult central nervous system as xenoestrogen.

In our experiments, 2-month–old Sprague-Dawley male and female rats were used. The animals were made to drink tap water mixed with BPA (25mg / kg) for 2 months, and then the animals were mated. 2 and 4 week - old offsprings were sacrificed. In our experiments we tried to answer whether the basal serum level of ACTH, cortisol, LH and PRL in offsprings of BPA treated parents would be changed. Determining the basal hormon levels trunc blood was collected and radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used.

The following results have been observed: Changes in ACTH levels: 2 week - old BPA treated offsprings showed a decrease in ACTH hormon levels. In 4-week-old offsprings the decrease continued compared to control animals. Changes in cortisol levels: No change in cortisol levels were observed in either 2 or 4 week - old BPA treated females, compared to their controls, while cortisol levels in 2 week – old BPA treated males showed a slight increase and then the cotisol level diminished in 4 week – old male ones according to their controls. Changes in LH levels: BPA treatment increased LH levels for both 2 and 4 week - old male and female offsprings compared to controls. Changes in PRL levels: 2 week - old BPA treated males and females showed a decrease in PRL levels compared to controls. 4 week – old BPA treated females showed an increase in hormone levels but it was not significant, while the hormone levels of BPA treated males were reduced in comparison to intact males.

Based on our results we can conclude that in offsprings of parents being given tap water with BPA, the BPA may cause the dysfunction of hypothalamo – hypophyseal - adrenal and - gonadal axis.