In vivo exposures of carp to graded concentration of Bisphenol

A wide range of environmental pollutants called Endocrine Disrupters (ED) can mimic steroid hormones causing adverse health effects. Previous studies have demonstrated that bisphenol-A (BPA) represents a relevant compound within chemicals present in water and sediments coming from a polluted area of the Po plain. This study is aimed to investigate the role of BPA in inducing ED effects at both morphological and biochemical level. One year old immature carps (n=120) were exposed for 14 days (OECD guideline 204) to BPA graded concentrations (1µg/L–10µg/L–100µg/L-1000µg/L) starting from the environmental value. Morphological alterations of gonads were described and compared to Vitellogenin (VTG) and sex steroid levels. Severe alteration of testis structure were observed in males starting from 10µg/L. Several males lost the typical lobule structure showing spermatogenic cysts intermingled with free SPZ often degenerating into the lumen. Females exposed to the highest concentration (1000µg/L) showed alteration in gonad. Carps exposed to the highest concentration showed intersexuality (10%). In males exposed to the highest concentration (1000µg/L) a significant increase of estradiol-17 (E2) plasma level and a steroid ratio E2/11KT (11-ketotestosterone) upper than 1, indicative of active females in carp, were observed. Vitellogenin plasma levels significantly increased in males, starting from 1000 µg/L, and females, starting from 100 µg/L.