Expression of clusterin on rat epididymis exposed to bisphenol A diglycidyl during in utero and lactation

This study was performed to investigate the adverse effects of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) on rat epididymis. BADGE was administered orally to pregnant 8-week-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley female rats from gestational day 6 to lactation once daily at doses of 0 (control), 50, 200, or 400 mg kg-1 day-1. Five male pups in control and three treatment groups were culled and sacrificed by ether on postnatal days (PND) 21, 42, or 56. Body and epididymis changes in weight and developmental characteristics of each male pup were recorded. The pattern of expression of clusterin mRNA in the cauda epididymis was observed using real-time PCR. The level of expression of clusterin proteins was confirmed using Western blot analysis. Body weight of the treated group did not differ markedly from the control. The adjusted anogenital distance (AGD) (in mm kg-(1/3)) on PND 7 in the 50 mg kg-1 day-1 group was significantly shorter than control; however, on PND 14 in the 200 mg kg-1 day-1 group and on PND 4 and 14 in the 400 mg kg-1 day-1 group, AGD was significantly longer. The expression of clusterin mRNA was significantly decreased on PND 56 in the 200 mg kg-1 day-1 and on PND 42 and 56 in the 400 mg kg-1 day-1 groups. The trend in the level of expression of clusterin proteins was similar to expression of mRNA. Male rats treated with 50 mg kg-1 day-1 of BADGE exerted no effect on epididymis. Data suggests that down-regulation of clusterin expression may be involved in reproductive toxicity produced by BADGE on rat epididymis. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.