Effects of Bisphenol A on energy balance and accumulation in brown adiposetissue in rats

Some environmental contaminants have the potential to affect humans or anim als by mimicking the effects of hormones. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a weak estro gen agonist when tested using in vitro or in vivo bioassays. In addition to the well documented effects of estrogens on reproductive functions, ovaria n hormones also have salient effects on mammalian energy balance and feedin g behavior. In this study, we investigated the effects of BPA on body weigh t and food intake of ovariectomized adult female rats. Treatment with doses of 4 or 5 mg/day for 15 days resulted in a significant reduction of body w eight gain with no reduction in food intake. A dose of 1 mg/day did not aff ect feeding or weight gain. BPA was detected in the blood, brain and adipos e tissues of the BPA-treated animals but not in the vehicle control group. There was a preferential concentration of BPA in brown adipose tissue. Thes e results indicate that BPA can affect energy balance and that brown adipos e tissue may be a primary tissue into which BPA accumulates in mammals. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.