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Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used chemical with a harmful effect on animal and human. The neonatal and juvenile period is a highly risky neurodevelopmental period. This study aimed to determine how male albino rat pups' cerebral cortex was altered by low doses of BPA given to mothers and the role of the oxidative stress. Thirty pregnant rats were randomly split into three equal groups, negative control, and positive control: received 1 cc of corn oil once a day through gastric tube and BPA treated: a dose of 200 µg/kg/day (dissolved in 1 cc corn oil). The male rat pups of each group were sacrificed at 1 week, 3 weeks and 6 weeks. The cerebra were then separated from the brain for histological and biochemical studies. Rats administered BPA had raised levels of lipid peroxidation marker (MDA), lower levels of enzymatic antioxidants (SOD and CAT) with decreased body, cerebral weights, and decreased levels of non-enzymatic antioxidant defense (GSH). Histo-pathologically, shrunken pyramidal cells with congested blood vessels appeared. GFAP displayed increased number of positive immune-reactive astrocytes with high statistically significant increase in the area % in BPA treated group when compared to the control groups, on contrary to MBP. Semi-thin and ultra-thin BPA-sections revealed degenerative changes in myelinated axons with tiny nucleus and broken nuclear membranes. Lysosomes, dilated endoplasmic reticulum cisternae with noticeable increase in unmyelinated nerve fibers were also observed. The structure of the developing cerebral cortex is negatively impacted by BPA due to oxidative stress. • Bisphenol-A groups exhibited a significant elevation of MDA and lowered levels of enzymatic antioxidants (SOD and CAT). • Decreased body, cerebral weights, and (GSH) levels were documented in BPA treated group. • Histo-pathologically, shrunken pyramidal cells with congested blood vessels. • A statistically significant rise in the GFAP immmuno-expression area % in BPA treated group on contrary to MBP was found • Semi-thin and ultra-thin BPA-sections revealed degenerative changes in myelinated axons with tiny nucleus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenols, synthetic organic compounds used in the production of plastics, are an extremely abundant class of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, i.e., exogenous chemicals or mixtures of chemicals that can interfere with any aspect of hormone action. Exposure to BPs can lead to a wide range of effects, and it is especially dangerous if it occurs during specific critical periods of life. Focusing on the perinatal exposure to BPA or its largely used substitute BPS, we investigated the effects on anxiety-related behaviors and the serotonergic system, which is highly involved in controlling these behaviors, in adult mice. We treated C57BL/6J dams orally with a dose of 4 μg/kg body weight/day (i.e., EFSA TDI) of BPA or BPS dissolved in corn oil or with vehicle alone, at the onset of mating and continued treatment until the offspring were weaned. Adult offspring of both sexes performed the elevated plus maze and the open field tests. Then, we analyzed the serotonergic system in dorsal (DR) and median (MnR) raphe nuclei by immunohistochemical techniques. Behavioral tests highlighted alterations in BPA- and BPS-treated mice, suggesting different effects of the bisphenols exposure on anxiety-related behavior in males (anxiolytic) and females (anxiogenic). The analysis of the serotonergic system highlighted a sex dimorphism in the DR only, with control females showing higher values of serotonin immunoreactivity (5-HT-ir) than control males. BPA-treated males displayed a significant increase of 5-HT-ir in all analyzed nuclei, whereas BPS-treated males showed an increase in ventral DR only. In females, both bisphenols-treated groups showed a significant increase of 5-HT-ir in dorsal DR compared to the controls, and BPA-treated females also showed a significant increase in MnR.These results provide evidence that exposure during the early phases of life to BPA or BPS alters anxiety and the raphe serotonergic neurons in a sex-dependent manner. [Display omitted] • Exposure to low-dose bisphenol A or S during the perinatal period represents a risk to the developing organism. • Anxiety-related behaviors are altered in bisphenol A or S-exposed mice. • Serotonergic system within dorsal and median raphe nuclei is altered in bisphenol A or S exposed mice. • Perinatal exposure to bisphenol A or S affected differentially the two sexes. • New and more stringent regulations on the use of BPA and its analogue BPS are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]