Developmental exposure to low-dose of bisphenol A alters maternal behaviour in rats

Maternal behaviour is a biomarker of neurotoxicity that is used. in the safety evaluation of chemical substances. The objective of. this study was to determine the effects on the F0 and F1 maternal. behaviour of gestation/lactation exposure of Wistar rats dams. (F0) with a low dose of bisphenol A consistent with human exposure. BisphenolAwas administered daily to pregnant rats by gavage. (5 g/kg body weight) from the first day of gestation (G1) to weaning. (PND 21) and then to the female offspring’s until their mating. at the adulthood (F1). For each generation, assessments of maternal. behaviour were carried out within two hours of the beginning. of the light cycle from the parturition to PND 8 by observing. presence/absence of the following behaviours: Nursing (Arched,. blanket and passive position); Resting (Inside the nest or outside. the nest); Anogenital licking; Self grooming; Pup licking; Pup carrying;. Feeding; Drinking; Exploration; Rearing; Nest building. We. show a significant decrease in the percentage of dams nursing, resting. inside the nest, nest building, and pup carrying in both BPA. treated mothers F0 and their F1 offspring (p < 0.05). Nevertheless,. there was no significant interaction between BPA treatment, generation. and percentage of dams observed drinking, feeding, self. grooming, exploring, anogenital and pup licking or rearing. The. present findings indicate that both an early exposure (F1) and an. adult exposure (F0) to a low-dose of BPA lead to significant effect. on maternal behaviour.