Effects of bisphenol-A on the growth of comb and testes of male chicken.

Abstract

Bisphenol-A (BPA) has been reported to have some xenoestrogenic effects on the reproductive system of male animals. In this study, we examined the growth of combs and testes of the male chickens exposed to BPA. White leghorn male chicks were administered 200 mg BPA orally every week from 2 wk of age. The combs and testes were examined at 16 wk of age. The body growth showed no significant difference between BPA-administered and control birds. However, the weight of the combs and testes were lower in the BPA-treated birds. Histologically, testes of the control birds were well matured; the seminiferous tubuli were filled with sperm. In contrast, the testes of most of the BPA-treated birds showed an immature appearance with smaller seminiferous tubuli and limited spermatogenesis. These findings suggest that the xenoestrogenic property of BPA might disturb the growth of the comb and testes of male chickens by a possible endocrine disrupting mechanism.