Abstract
Bisphenol A (4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol, C$\_$15/H$\_$16/O$_2$) is the monomer used in the manufacture of polycarbonate. Polycarbonate, in turn, is used in a wide array of plastic products, with new applications continuously being developed. Also it has been used to produce epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics for food container. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of bisphenol A on lactation period to dams and F1, Sprague-Dawley females were mated with on 2:1 ratio basis. Various doses of bisphenol A (0, 2, 20, 200, and 2,000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg) were daily administered to females for 21 days after parturition. Dams and offsprings were sacrificed at the time of weaning. The results were as follows, 2000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg of bisphenol A decreased the dams' body weight at post-partum 18 days and also 200 and 2000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg of bisphenol A decreased the body weight of neonates at the days of post-partum 21 days. Bisphenol A increased the relative weights of liver and spleen in male offsprings, depending on the doses. But female offsprings showed high relative organ weights of ovaries, and low relative organ weights of uterine in a some dose-response manners. High dose of bisphenol A induced low viability of neonates exposed during lactation period. The dams treated with bisphenol A showed prematured estrous stage. Bisphenol A was recovered about 21.2% average in serum of dams, and also in offsprings'. The results indicate that the bisphenol A induces estrous cycle during lactation period in dams, also reaches to the of offspring through breast milk. Thus bisphenol A exopsed to dams and neonates via lactation induces some estrogenic and toxic effects.