Xenoestrogens: The emerging story of bisphenol A

Xenoestrogens are chemicals with diverse structure that mimic estrogen. Bisphenol A (BPA), a monomer of polycarbonate and epoxy resins, has been defected in canned food and human saliva. BPA stimulates cell proliferation and induces expression of estrogen-responsive, genes in vitro, albeit with a relatively low, potency. In vivo, BPA increases prolactin release and stimulates uterine, vaginal and mammary growth and differentiation. BPA shares similarities in structure, metabolism and action with diethylstilbestrol (DES), a known human teratogen and carcinogen. This review considers the hypothesis that BPA is converted ted in vivo to hydroxylated metabolite(s) with enhanced estrogenicity, and genotoxicity.