CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO BISPHENOL A PRODUCES MORPHOLOGICAL DERANGEMENTS IN LIVER, KIDNEY AND HEART IN RATS
Introduction: Bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogenic compound is used in the manufacturing of plastics and also as coating for the inner linings of food packaging containers. It is reported to be an endocrine disruptor and produce toxicity in various organs. Since BPA exposure mainly occurs in the form of oral ingestion in humans, the present study was performed to examine the effects produced by the chronic exposure to BPA orally on kidney, liver and heart in rats. Material & Methods: Adult female rats of Charles Foster strain were used for the study. The rats were divided into two groups (n=6 in each group). In group 1, the rats were provided with food and water ad libitum whereas the rats of group 2 were fed with BPA containing pellets (2 µg/kg body weight/day) for 30 days. Thereafter the heart, kidneys and liver were excised and processed for histopathological study. Results: The histopathological examination of the organs in BPA fed rats showed major structural changes which manifested as loss of normal cytoarchitecture in all the three organs. Further there was significant reduction in the number of glomeruli in kidneys, degenerative changes in liver in the form of damage to portal triad and in heart the intercalated discs were damaged. Conclusion: Chronic exposure to BPA by oral route produces renal toxicity as loss of glomeruli; hepatotoxicity as cytoarchitecture loss and cardiotoxicity as damage of intercalated disc changes.