EFFECT OF BISPHENOL-A ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM IN PREGNANT RATS

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large volumes worldwide and has large market diffusion in many consumer products. BPA is used mainly as a monomer in the production of polycarbonate plastics and as a precursor of epoxy resins. So the present study was undertaken to examine the toxic effect of BPA on heart function in pregnant rat models. BPA (50 mg/kg.b.wt/day and 500 mg/kg.b.wt/day) was administered for 8^th to 15^th day by oral-gavage. The rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation after last treatment. Paraffin embedded heart tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Significant degenerative changes were observed in H&E stained heart tissue sections of test rats. The activities of antioxidant enzymes like- superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were seen to be decreased significantly in treated rats; while, the level of malondialdehyde, a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, was increased than treated rats. Up-regulation of proapoptotic protein has been reported in heart failure and myocardial infarction, to determine whether caspase-3 protein can affect cardiac function in treated pregnant rats. In conclusion, BPA inhibits ventricular function in rat presumably by producing oxidative stress induced apoptosis and causes potential cardio toxicity.