EFFECTS OF CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO BISPHENOL-A IN PREGNANT FEMALE MICE

Bisphenol A (BPA), an organic synthetic compound found in some plastics and epoxy resins, is one of the best known and most studied EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, i.e. an exogenous chemical, or mixture of chemicals, that can interfere with any aspect of hormone action). Exposure to BPA is espe- cially dangerous if it occurs during specific “critical periods” of life, such as intrauterine, perinatal, juvenile or puberty periods, when organisms are more sensitive to hormonal changes. This exposure can originate, in adulthood, both physiological and behavioural alterations. In particular, we focused on the effects of exposure to BPA during pregnancy, which represents a partic- ularly sensitive period not only for the fetus but also for the mother.