Effects of bisphenol-A (BPA), dibutylphtalate (DBP), benzophenone-2 (BP2), procymidone (Proc), and linurone (Lin) on fat tissue, a variety of hormones and metabolic parameters:: A 3 months comparison with effects of estradiol (E2) in ovariectomized (ovx) rats

The endocrine active substances BPA, DBP and BP2 have estrogenic effects in the uterus. Proc and Lin were shown to be antiandrogenic. Whether other estrogen-regulated parameters like lipids, fat metabolism and hormones are also affected by these substances is unknown. We compared the effects of a 3 months lasting administration of these substances with those of E2 on an estrogen-regulated fat depot and on serum TSH, T3, T4, LH, and lipid concentrations. BP2 shared many of the effects of E2 by suppressing LH, cholesterol, LDL, HDL and the size of a small estrogen-regulated fat depot in the lower hindleg. BP2 suppressed T4 but not T3 and TSH. The effects of DBP and BPA were mostly negligible whereas Lin and Proc also reduced the fat depot and serum leptin but increased triglycerides and serum lipids. Serum T3 and T4 concentrations were reduced by Lin and Proc. These data indicate that BP2 has similar, though slightly weaker effects as E2 whereas the effects of Proc and Lin differ from those of E2 on serum lipids and hormones. BP2 can be regarded as an estrogenic endocrine active substance whereas the effects of Lin and Proc appear not to involve estrogen receptors. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.