Effect of Bisphenol A on the Erectile Tissues of the Rabbit

Moon, Du Geon; Park, Hoong Seok; Cho, Hyun Yee; Yeo, Jeong Kyun; Kim, Je Jong

Abstract

Previously, we demonstrated the changes of erectile tissues by intraperitoneal administration of BPA with toxic dose (cumulative dose of 900mg) in the rabbit. We performed this study to investigate the changes of erectile tissues by intracavernosal administration of BPA with low dose. New Zealand white rabbits were treated intracavernosally with 1 mg, 1 micro gram, 1 ng, and 1pg of BPA. Four weeks after administration of BPA, the contractions and relaxation of cavernosal tissue strips were significantly suppressed in the BPA-treated animals in a dose-dependent fashion compared with the control animals. Histologically, thickening of tunica albuginea by increased collagen fibers, subtunical deposition of fat, and decreased sinusoidal space by severe cavernosal smooth muscle hyperplasia with fibrosis were observed in the BPA treated animals. These results suggest that xenoestrogen BPA may affect the erectile function through evident histological changes of the penis in low dose.