The effects of bisphenol A and its analogs on steroidogenesis in MA-10 Leydig cells and KGN granulosa cells†.

Bisphenols are a family of chemicals used in the manufacture of consumer products containing polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Studies have shown that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) may disrupt steroidogenesis and induce adverse effects on male and female reproduction, but little is known about BPA replacements. We determined the effects of six bisphenols on the steroidogenic function of MA-10 Leydig cells and KGN granulosa cells by measuring the levels of progesterone and estradiol produced by these cells as well as the expression of transcripts involved in steroid and cholesterol biosynthesis. MA-10 and KGN cells were exposed for 48 h to one of six bisphenols (0.01-50 μM): BPA, bisphenol F, bisphenol S, bisphenol AF, bisphenol M, or bisphenol TMC, under both basal and dibutyryl cAMP (Bu2cAMP)-stimulated conditions. In MA-10 cells, most bisphenols increased the Bu2cAMP-stimulated production of progesterone. In KGN cells, there was a general decrease in progesterone production, while estradiol levels were increased following exposure to many bisphenols. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that all six bisphenols (≥1 μM) upregulated the expression of STAR, a cholesterol transporter, in both cell lines after stimulation. Key transcripts directly involved in steroid and cholesterol biosynthesis were significantly altered in a cell line, chemical, and concentration-dependent manner. Thus, BPA and five of its analogs can disrupt steroid production in two steroidogenic cell lines and alter the levels of transcripts involved in this process. Importantly, BPA replacements do not appear to have fewer effects than BPA.