Does BPA alter steroid hormone synthesis in human granulosa cells in vitro?

Abstract STUDY QUESTION Does Bisphenol A (BPA) impair steroid hormone production in human luteinized granulosa cells in vitro? SUMMARY ANSWER At supra-physiological concentrations, BPA alters progesterone and estradiol synthesis in vitro and significantly reduces the mRNA and protein expression levels of three genes encoding steroidogenesis enzymes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY In IVF patients, the effects of BPA exposure on cycle outcome are controversial. Previous animal studies have shown that granulosa cell steroid hormone synthesis is compromised after BPA exposure, but their findings have been difficult to replicate in humans due, in part, to the low availability of discarded biological material. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Luteinized granulosa cells obtained from 44 fertile and infertile patients undergoing in vitro fertilization were cultured for 48 h with different concentrations of BPA (0, 0.2, 0.02, 2.0, 20 µg/ml). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Culture medium and total RNA extracted from the luteinized granulosa cells were examined for estradiol and progesterone levels as well as mRNA and protein expression of steroidogenesis enzymes, using enzyme immunoassays, real-time PCR and western blots. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Treatment of granulosa cells with 2 or 20 µg/ml BPA for 48 h resulted in significantly lower progesterone biosynthesis (P < 0.005 and