The effect of bisphenol A on cell apoptosis pattern in the spinal cord of chick embryos / 대한주산의학회잡지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on cell death pattern in neuronal development of chick embryos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We planned to compare the cytokinetic features in the normal chick embryo and those with BPA. Fifteen eggs were divided into three GROUPS the control group, BPA 50 microgram/g egg group and BPA 200 microgram/g egg group. Embryos were incubated for 56 hours (Hamburger & Hamilton stage 16) and then we injected BPA into embryos. The embryos were sectioned by 3 micrometer thickness at the level of wing buds and stained at 72 hours after incubation (HH stage 18). We observed cell death in the spinal cord using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. RESULTS: The TUNEL-positivity markedly increased in proportion to the doses of BPA. The number of TUNEL-positive cells per section was 15.2+/-2.14 in the control group, 34.6+/-3.44 in the BPA 50 microgram/g egg group, 87.6+/-4.32 in the BPA 200 g/g egg group. Furthermore the contour of spinal cord was deformed as the doses of BPA raised. CONCLUSION: BPA causes neuronal cell death and exerts cytotoxic effect on early chick embryos. It suggests that BPA might have an effect on cytogenesis during neural tube development.