Gene expression changes in female reproductive system of dose response, BPA-treated sprague-dawley rats / Fatin Hanis Mahmood

Bisphenol A is a major monomer used in the production of epoxy resin and polycarbonate plastics worldwide. It has weak estrogenic activity and was claimed to have certain effects on reproductive system. This research was conducted to monitor physical changes and to identify gene expression changes of ERα, ERβ and PR in female reproductive system. The procedure in this study was started by force­ feeding treatment of BPA according to group of 50µg, 500µg, 1000µg, 5000µg/ kg/ day, tween-80 as the negative control or ethynyl estradiol as the positive control, to six different groups of female juvenile SD rats with recorded daily weight. After 2 weeks of treatment, the rats were dissected and the weights of ovaries were documented. Then, RNA from ovaries was isolated using SY Total RNA Isolation System for RT-PCR before gel electrophoresis took place. The analysis of body and organ weights was performed using one-way ANOVA. Analysis of weight has been done and it is found that there is rising and elevated model of mean weight of other treatment groups as compared to the negative control. Meanwhile, relative ovary weight analysis shows no significant difference between groups of treatment. However, the main objective of the study in order to observe the changes in expression of genes of interest was not achieved due to some technical problems that might not be alert of during the procedures. Therefore, it is recommended for future study to be performed with sufficient precautions and suitable environment in order to minimize the risk of failure of the research.