Long-term pre-exposure of pheochromocytoma PC12 cells to endocrine-disrupting chemicals influences neuronal differentiation

This study examined the effects of exposure to low concentrations (0.1-100 nM) of bisphenol A (BPA) or nonylphenol (NP) on neuronal differentiation in pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Pre-exposure to BPA for a week or a month, but not for a day, decreased neuronal differentiation in PC12 cells. Likewise, one week's pre-exposure to NP also inhibited neuronal differentiation in these cells. The inhibitory effects were still observed when PC12 cells were treated with BPA or NP for a week, followed by a week's withdrawal. These findings suggest that long-term exposure of PC12 cells to low concentrations of BPA or NP leads to changes in the cellular machinery responsible for neuronal differentiation, and these changes might be retained within PC12 cells.