New system isolates BPA effects on mammary tissue

Researchers have developed an organ culture system that allows testing of chemical exposure without potential confounding by other chemicals, according to a press release. The initial study using this new system examined the effects of bisphenol-A in fetal mammary tissues with the absence of natural estrogen.

When using this system on mice, researchers found that BPA significantly and directly increased tissue growth. This test allowed researchers to observe the effects of BPA without the interference of maternal estrogens.

“This novel bioassay enables us to answer questions that could not be addressed previously, including how these chemicals may cause abnormal organ development, a feature that is known to increase the risk of developing several diseases later in adulthood,” Carlos Sonnenschein, MD, a professor in the department of integrative physiology and pathobiology at Tufts University School of Medicine, said in the release.

Researchers also found that estradiol, the natural estrogen produced by the ovaries, appears to work through different mechanisms than BPA because of a different response to fulvestrant, an anti-estrogen compound that blocks nuclear estrogen receptors.

“We have developed an ex vivo culture method of the fetal mammary gland, where the action of hormone disruptors, such as BPA, can be tested at a critical window of exposure,” Lucia Speroni, PhD, a research associate at Tufts University School of Medicine, said in the release. “This represents a novel approach to study the effects of hormones and hormonally active chemicals on the developing fetal mammary tissue outside the organism.”

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.