Action of endocrine disruptors bisphenol a and cadmium on the gerbil's prostate: studies under normal androgenic conditions and following bilateral orchiectomy

Abstract

The prostate gland is an accessory gland of the genital system responsible for producing an alkaline secretion that provides capacity and survival of spermatozoa. Its development occurs under the influence of androgenic and estrogenic control a regulated and precise, so that sensitive interference that may predispose the gland to develop diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and cancer during adulthood and senile. Current research has shown that many environmental pollutants, when in contact with the human body, have hormonal activity. Among these environmental chemicals stand out bisphenol A and cadmium. Bisphenol A is a plastic monomer release polymer widely used today. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal used in industry and also released by burning tobacco. These two substances can interfere with prostate morphogenesis, since that mimic estrogens and compete with the receptors for these hormones. Several studies have shown that intrauterine exposure to these endocrine and neonatal estrogen alters the normal pattern of prostate morphogenesis, favoring the development of lesions in adulthood and senility. However, little attention has been focused on the effects that exposure to these environmental chemicals may cause prostate during postnatal development. Puberty is an important period of postnatal development of the prostate, as the testicular androgen secretion begins in adolescence induces a new outbreak of prostate growth and differentiation. It is therefore of fundamental importance to assess how exposure to environmental substances such acts in the process of pubertal development of the prostate, observing what is the relevance of this period for the entire formation process of this gland. The aim of this study is to assess whether exposure to bisphenol A and cadmium during puberty can cause changes in the prostate of normal and castrated male gerbils. To fulfill this purpose will be used morphological, morphometric-stereological, immunohistochemistry and biochemical. From the results obtained may be elucidated the possible mechanisms involved in the change in postnatal prostatic development, making possible the combination of these mechanisms with the development of prostate disease during adulthood and senescence. (AU)