Perinatal high-fat diet and Bisphenol A: effects on behavior, gene expression and neuroanatomy in the medial prefrontal cortex
type: CreativeWork
description: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic industrial compound that is used to create polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. When BPA is consumed, most commonly through food and drink, it can act as an endocrine disruptor binding to estrogen-related, estrogen, androgen, and thyroid receptors. Abnormal binding of these receptors could alter normal brain development and cause lasting changes in gene expression, behavior and neuroanatomy. Additionally, perinatal HFD has been reported to cause long-term alterations in anxiety behavior and gene expression in the brain. Given that BPA and HFD are both ubiquitous in the environment and Western society, it is important to understand the possible effects and interactions on the brain. In the current study, I investigate the long-term impact of environmentally relevant exposure to BPA and a 45% fat diet during perinatal development. Zero (control), 40 or 400 μg/kg/day BPA was orally dosed to pregnant dams from gestational day 2 through birth, and then directly to each pup from postnatal day 1-10. The dams were fed either a control (15.8% kcal/fat) or a high fat diet (45% kcal/fat) during the same time period. After birth, the dams were observed for maternal care interactions with the litter. At postnatal day 10, tissue was collected from pups for gene expression and cytokine analysis. Littermates were observed for changes in periadolescent play behavior from postnatal day 26- 40, elevated plus maze (EPM) and social recognition in adulthood. Further, the cortex was collected in adulthood to assess gene expression, and the number of neurons, glia, synapses and microglia. Significant alterations were found in maternal care, inflammatory markers, gene expression, play behavior and the elevated plus maze. Perinatal BPA exposure showed a trend toward a decrease in positive maternal care and increased the levels of inflammatory markers in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) at P10, while perinatal HFD increased positive maternal care and de…
abstract: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic industrial compound that is used to create polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. When BPA is consumed, most commonly through food and drink, it can act as an endocrine disruptor binding to estrogen-related, estrogen, androgen, and thyroid receptors. Abnormal binding of these receptors could alter normal brain development and cause lasting changes in gene expression, behavior and neuroanatomy. Additionally, perinatal HFD has been reported to cause long-term alterations in anxiety behavior and gene expression in the brain. Given that BPA and HFD are both ubiquitous in the environment and Western society, it is important to understand the possible effects and interactions on the brain. In the current study, I investigate the long-term impact of environmentally relevant exposure to BPA and a 45% fat diet during perinatal development. Zero (control), 40 or 400 μg/kg/day BPA was orally dosed to pregnant dams from gestational day 2 through birth, and then directly to each pup from postnatal day 1-10. The dams were fed either a control (15.8% kcal/fat) or a high fat diet (45% kcal/fat) during the same time period. After birth, the dams were observed for maternal care interactions with the litter. At postnatal day 10, tissue was collected from pups for gene expression and cytokine analysis. Littermates were observed for changes in periadolescent play behavior from postnatal day 26- 40, elevated plus maze (EPM) and social recognition in adulthood. Further, the cortex was collected in adulthood to assess gene expression, and the number of neurons, glia, synapses and microglia. Significant alterations were found in maternal care, inflammatory markers, gene expression, play behavior and the elevated plus maze. Perinatal BPA exposure showed a trend toward a decrease in positive maternal care and increased the levels of inflammatory markers in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) at P10, while perinatal HFD increased positive maternal care and de…
author: Wise, Leslie Megan
language: en
keywords: social, play, inflammation, gene expression, BPA, endocrine disruptor, maternal behavior, anxiety
date published: 2018-09-04T20:46:42Z
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:38Z
provider: University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/101247