HUMAN & EXPERIMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, cilt.32, sa.7, ss.675-686, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
This study aimed to determine the effects of 13-week bisphenol A (BPA) and octylphenol (OP) exposure on
the liver, kidney, and spleen of growing male rats. A total of 29 male Wistar rats aged 4–5 weeks were divided
into five groups. The treatment groups were given low-dose (125 mg/kg bw/day) or high-dose (250 mg/kg bw/
day) BPA or OP. These compounds were dissolved in corn oil and given via oral route for 13 weeks. Rats in the
control group received corn oil for 13 weeks, as well. After 13 weeks of treatment, blood samples were analyzed
for biochemical parameters. Tissue samples from the liver, kidney, and spleen were histopathologically
and histomorphometrically examined. Liver tissue specimens were also stained by immunohistochemically; the
number of apoptotic cells was counted, and the apoptotic indices were calculated. There were significant
differences between the control and treatment groups with respect to the following parameters: body weight,
relative left kidney weight, and total protein, glucose, and alkaline phosphatase levels. Edema and parenchymal
degeneration in the liver and tubular degeneration in the kidney were more frequent in the treatment groups.
The control and treatment groups were comparable with respect to the frequency of histopathological lesions
in the spleen. Glomerular histomorphometry revealed no significant differences between the control and treatment
groups. No significant differences existed between the control and treatment groups with respect to the
number of apoptotic cells and apoptotic indices. Subchronic exposure to BPA and OP induced functional and
structural changes in the liver, kidney, and spleen of growing male rats.