Sex-specific influence of exposure to bisphenol-A between adolescence and young adulthood on mouse behaviors

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is one of the most common environmental endocrine disrupters and has a wide range of effects on central nervous system. Adolescence is another important developmental period besides the early critical prenatal and neonatal periods. In the present study, we exposed mice to BPA (40, 400 μg/kg/d) between adolescence and young adulthood for 8 weeks and investigated its effects on the non-reproductive behaviors. In open field tests, rearing and grooming sex differences were abolished by BPA exposure. In the elevated plus maze test, the number of open arm entries, the time spent in open arms, and the number of unprotected head dips in the center area were reduced in males but increased in females by BPA at 40 or 400 μg/kg/d, thus eliminating or reversing sex differences in these behaviors. In the Morris water maze task, exposure to BPA at 40 μg/kg/d significantly extended the average escape pathlength to the hidden platform in males, but no significant influence was found in females; thus, the sex differences in spatial learning and memory were abolished. In the step-down test, the latency to step down from the platform 24 h after receiving a footshock was shortened by BPA exposure in males but not in females; thus, a sex difference was induced in passive avoidance memory in mice. These results suggest that long-term exposure to low levels of BPA between adolescence and young adulthood alters characteristic differences in certain non-reproductive behaviors of males and females, including exploration, anxiety, spatial learning and memory, and passive avoidance memory, although no obvious changes were found in the serum hormone levels or in the weights of reproductive organs.

► BPA exposure during puberty and young adulthood eliminated sex difference in anxiety. ► BPA exposure abolished rearing and grooming sex difference of adult in open field. ► BPA exposure extended the average escape pathlength of males in Morris water maze. ► BPA exposure shortened step-down latency of male mice in passive avoidance.