Effect of Bisphenol-A on Vitellogenin Synthesis and Estrogen-Estrogen Receptor Binding Activity in the Primary Hepatocyte Cultures of Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Effects of bisphenol-A (BPA) on vitellogenin (VTG) synthesis and estrogen-estrogen receptor $(E_2- ER)$ binding activity were examined in primary hepatocyte cultures of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Hepatocytes were precultured for 2 days and then $estradiol-17\beta\;(E_2,\;2\times10^{-6}M)\;BPA\;(10^{-5}-10^{-8}M)$ and/or 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen $(4-OHT,\;10^{-6} M)$ were simultaneously added to the incubation medium. Hepatocytes were cultured for 5 more days and then spent medium was analyzed by SDS-PAGE for VTG production. The addition of BPA to the incubation medium had no effect on the viability of hepatocytes in the culture. On the other hand, BPA increased VTG production in a concentration-dependent way and a significant increment occurred at BPA concentrations greater than $10^{-6}$M. Although VTG was increased by the addition of $E_2\;(2\times10^{-6}\;M)\;or\;BPA\;(10^{-5}M)$, its were reduced by a simultaneous 4-OHT $(10^{-6}\;M)$ addition. BPA inhibited $E_2-human$ ER binding activity by $72\%$ at $10^{-5}$ M of BPA. These results suggested that BPA induced VTG synthesis by BPA-ER binding activity in the hepatocyte of rainbow trout.