Changes in estrogen receptors α and β expression in the brain of mice exposed prenatally to bisphenol A

The expression of ERs α and β and serotonergic neurons were evaluated in the brains of mice prenatally exposed to Bisphenol A, a known endocrine disrupting chemical (EDc). Bisphenol A was administered orally at a dose of 2 ng/g body weight on gestinational days 11–17 to pregnant ICR mice. Newborn male offspring (Bis-A mice) were evaluated for the immunoreactivity of ERs α and β, serotonin, and serotonin transporter positive cells in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). The serum testosterone level was also evaluated. In the Bis-A mice, the expression of ERs α and β at 5 and 13 weeks was increased compared with the controls (P < 0.04), but this difference disappeared by the 9th week. The serotonin, serotonin transporter, and testosterone level differences between two groups did not reach significance. Exposure to bisphenol A may have changed the expression of ERs in the brain, but did not directly affect serotonin neurons in the DRN.