The impact of bisphenol A exposure during pregnancy on the heart of mother and fetal rats

Abstract

In utero bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has been reported to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adult life. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the impact of in utero BPA exposure on proteins expression related to cardiac function in heart of rat foetuses (Rattus norvegicus). In here, pregnant rats were divided into tween-80 (vehicle control), 0.05 mg/mL and 0.2 mg/mL BPA via drinking water for 19 days: from pregnancy day 2 till 21. Caesarean section was conducted on pregnancy day 21 to collect plasma and heart of both mother and foetuses. BPA-exposed pregnant rats showed significant increase in blood pressure (BP) and reduction in glycogen content (p<0.05) in comparison to control pregnant rats. Remarkably, reduced expression of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and redistribution of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) expression were in foetus of BPA-exposed mother in comparison with foetus of control mother. Hypoxia induced factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression was elevated in BPA-exposed foetal heart compared to the control. The findings in here suggest the risk of in utero BPA exposure on both foetus and mother, which may increase the risk of CVD in later life by altering the expression of protein crucial for heart development and function.