Loss of adult visual responses by developmental BPA exposure is correlated with altered estrogenic signaling
Abstract Early exposure to environmental contaminants such as bisphenol A (BPA) poses significant health risks due to their potential to disrupt development. However, many studies focus on immediate effects, leaving the long-term impact poorly understood. Here, we investigate the long-term effects o...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08245-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849724973287997440 |
|---|---|
| author | Annastelle Cohen Avery Sherffius Jennifer S. Jensen Rebecca Harris Elizabeth Burch Gregory Foster Stephen MacAvoy Mikayla Delbridge-Perry Victoria P. Connaughton |
| author_facet | Annastelle Cohen Avery Sherffius Jennifer S. Jensen Rebecca Harris Elizabeth Burch Gregory Foster Stephen MacAvoy Mikayla Delbridge-Perry Victoria P. Connaughton |
| author_sort | Annastelle Cohen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Early exposure to environmental contaminants such as bisphenol A (BPA) poses significant health risks due to their potential to disrupt development. However, many studies focus on immediate effects, leaving the long-term impact poorly understood. Here, we investigate the long-term effects of transient BPA exposure during critical periods of visual system development in zebrafish (Danio rerio). We exposed zebrafish to BPA at 72 hours post-fertilization (hpf) and 7 days post-fertilization (dpf) and assessed retinal anatomy, optomotor responses, retinal physiology, and molecular signaling pathways during juvenile or adult stages. Photopic ERGs from adults revealed changes to bipolar and photoreceptor cell responses that were differentially affected by exposure age and BPA concentration. Exposure to low (0.001 µM) BPA at 72 hpf, not 7 dpf, altered expression of estrogen-responsive genes cyp19a1b and esr2 in adult retinas, as well as the thyroid-responsive gene thrb. We also identified changes in phosphorylation levels of the intracellular kinases Akt, ERK, and JNK in adult retinas and found differences depended upon BPA concentration and exposure age. This study demonstrates that brief early life exposure to BPA can have profound and lasting effects on the visual system, identifying a novel effect of this well-known chemical. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f10566d1ccf4633ae528cf8db7a4a72 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f10566d1ccf4633ae528cf8db7a4a722025-08-20T03:10:35ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-06-018112110.1038/s42003-025-08245-yLoss of adult visual responses by developmental BPA exposure is correlated with altered estrogenic signalingAnnastelle Cohen0Avery Sherffius1Jennifer S. Jensen2Rebecca Harris3Elizabeth Burch4Gregory Foster5Stephen MacAvoy6Mikayla Delbridge-Perry7Victoria P. Connaughton8Department of Biology, American UniversityDepartment of Biology, American UniversityDepartment of Biology, American UniversityDepartment of Biology, American UniversityDepartment of Environmental Science, American UniversityDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason UniversityDepartment of Environmental Science, American UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, American UniversityDepartment of Biology, American UniversityAbstract Early exposure to environmental contaminants such as bisphenol A (BPA) poses significant health risks due to their potential to disrupt development. However, many studies focus on immediate effects, leaving the long-term impact poorly understood. Here, we investigate the long-term effects of transient BPA exposure during critical periods of visual system development in zebrafish (Danio rerio). We exposed zebrafish to BPA at 72 hours post-fertilization (hpf) and 7 days post-fertilization (dpf) and assessed retinal anatomy, optomotor responses, retinal physiology, and molecular signaling pathways during juvenile or adult stages. Photopic ERGs from adults revealed changes to bipolar and photoreceptor cell responses that were differentially affected by exposure age and BPA concentration. Exposure to low (0.001 µM) BPA at 72 hpf, not 7 dpf, altered expression of estrogen-responsive genes cyp19a1b and esr2 in adult retinas, as well as the thyroid-responsive gene thrb. We also identified changes in phosphorylation levels of the intracellular kinases Akt, ERK, and JNK in adult retinas and found differences depended upon BPA concentration and exposure age. This study demonstrates that brief early life exposure to BPA can have profound and lasting effects on the visual system, identifying a novel effect of this well-known chemical.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08245-y |
| spellingShingle | Annastelle Cohen Avery Sherffius Jennifer S. Jensen Rebecca Harris Elizabeth Burch Gregory Foster Stephen MacAvoy Mikayla Delbridge-Perry Victoria P. Connaughton Loss of adult visual responses by developmental BPA exposure is correlated with altered estrogenic signaling Communications Biology |
| title | Loss of adult visual responses by developmental BPA exposure is correlated with altered estrogenic signaling |
| title_full | Loss of adult visual responses by developmental BPA exposure is correlated with altered estrogenic signaling |
| title_fullStr | Loss of adult visual responses by developmental BPA exposure is correlated with altered estrogenic signaling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Loss of adult visual responses by developmental BPA exposure is correlated with altered estrogenic signaling |
| title_short | Loss of adult visual responses by developmental BPA exposure is correlated with altered estrogenic signaling |
| title_sort | loss of adult visual responses by developmental bpa exposure is correlated with altered estrogenic signaling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08245-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annastellecohen lossofadultvisualresponsesbydevelopmentalbpaexposureiscorrelatedwithalteredestrogenicsignaling AT averysherffius lossofadultvisualresponsesbydevelopmentalbpaexposureiscorrelatedwithalteredestrogenicsignaling AT jennifersjensen lossofadultvisualresponsesbydevelopmentalbpaexposureiscorrelatedwithalteredestrogenicsignaling AT rebeccaharris lossofadultvisualresponsesbydevelopmentalbpaexposureiscorrelatedwithalteredestrogenicsignaling AT elizabethburch lossofadultvisualresponsesbydevelopmentalbpaexposureiscorrelatedwithalteredestrogenicsignaling AT gregoryfoster lossofadultvisualresponsesbydevelopmentalbpaexposureiscorrelatedwithalteredestrogenicsignaling AT stephenmacavoy lossofadultvisualresponsesbydevelopmentalbpaexposureiscorrelatedwithalteredestrogenicsignaling AT mikayladelbridgeperry lossofadultvisualresponsesbydevelopmentalbpaexposureiscorrelatedwithalteredestrogenicsignaling AT victoriapconnaughton lossofadultvisualresponsesbydevelopmentalbpaexposureiscorrelatedwithalteredestrogenicsignaling |