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Prenatal BPA exposure may contribute to the male bias of autism spectrum disorder

Date:
January 19, 2021
Source:
Tohoku University
Summary:
Autism has a higher prevalence in males than females. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common chemical found in plastics, our food, and even the human placenta. Higher prenatal exposure to BPA is thought to increase the risk of autism. Researchers have identified autism candidate genes that may be responsible for the sex-specific effects of BPA.
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A new study by researchers from Chulalongkorn University, Tohoku University, and The George Washington University is the first to identify autism candidate genes that may be responsible for the sex-specific effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the brain. It suggests BPA may serve as an environmental factor that contributes to the prevalence of male bias in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

BPA is widely used in many products in our daily life and abundant in micro/nanoplastics found in the environment, food, or the human placenta. It is thought to be an environmental influence on ASD -- a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social communication, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. ASD is a major public health challenge around the world, with roughly 1 in 54 children in the United States being diagnosed.

"Many studies have shown BPA impairs neurological functions known to be disrupted in ASD, making scientists believe that BPA may be one of the key environmental risk factors for ASD. However, we still do not know how BPA can cause or increase the susceptibility of ASD and whether it also plays a role in the male bias of the disorder," said assistant professor Dr.Tewarit Sarachana, head of the SYstems Neuroscience of Autism and PSychiatric disorders (SYNAPS) Research Unit at the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University.

"In fact, one of our recent studies has demonstrated that prenatal exposure to BPA altered the expression of several ASD candidate genes in the hippocampus in a sex-dependent pattern, but the link between the dysregulation of ASD candidate genes and impaired neurological functions is still lacking."

"In this study, we showed exposure to BPA during the gestational period decreased neuronal viability and neuronal density in the hippocampus and impaired learning/memory in only the male offspring. Interestingly, the expression of several ASD-related genes in the hippocampus was dysregulated and showed sex-specific correlations with neuronal viability, neuritogenesis, and/or learning/memory. Under prenatal BPA exposure, these genes may play important roles in determining the risk of ASD and its higher prevalence in males," said Surangrat Thongkorn, a Ph.D. candidate and first author of the study.

"The sex differences in the effects of BPA found in our study strongly suggest that BPA negatively impacts the male and female offspring brain through different molecular mechanisms. We are progressively working on these issues to identify the sex-specific molecular mechanism of BPA in the brain. Understanding the effects of BPA and its molecular mechanisms in ASD may lead to changes in the policy regarding the use of BPA or even the discovery of molecular targets for ASD treatment in the future," concluded Dr.Sarachana.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Tohoku University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Surangrat Thongkorn, Songphon Kanlayaprasit, Pawinee Panjabud, Thanit Saeliw, Thanawin Jantheang, Kasidit Kasitipradit, Suthathip Sarobol, Depicha Jindatip, Valerie W. Hu, Tewin Tencomnao, Takako Kikkawa, Tatsuya Sato, Noriko Osumi, Tewarit Sarachana. Sex differences in the effects of prenatal bisphenol A exposure on autism-related genes and their relationships with the hippocampus functions. Scientific Reports, 2021; 11 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80390-2

Cite This Page:

Tohoku University. "Prenatal BPA exposure may contribute to the male bias of autism spectrum disorder." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 January 2021. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210119114349.htm>.
Tohoku University. (2021, January 19). Prenatal BPA exposure may contribute to the male bias of autism spectrum disorder. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210119114349.htm
Tohoku University. "Prenatal BPA exposure may contribute to the male bias of autism spectrum disorder." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210119114349.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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