Genetics: Antioxidants Can Reverse the Damage of BPA to Fertility

June 4, 2020 /
BiovalleyBIOON /- Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of certain plastics and resins, food cans and bottle caps of the inner layer coatings, thermal paper used in store receipts, dental sealants, etcExposure to BPA is a cause for concern because it can have negative health effects, including reduced fertilitystudy by Maria Fernanda Hornos Carneiro and her team at Harvard Medical School (HMS) suggests that the harmful effects of BPA can be reversed by using CoQ10 (coenzyme 10) supplements, a naturally produced substance in the body, as well as in beef and fishHornos Carneiro is a former FAPESP scholarship recipient for the StPaul Research Foundationarticle published in the journal Genetics is the first to suggest a strategy for reversing the effects of BPA on the bodyFor the study, researchers tested the antioxidant effect of CoQ10 in nematodes exposed to BPAas an excellent antioxidant, CoQ10 is an electronic donorBy contributing electrons, it stabilizes free radicals and reduces oxidative stress and cell damage caused by BPAPhoto Source: Maria Fernanda Hornos Carneiro and Nara Shin
"BPA has oxidation potential because of its unstable chemical properties, which produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen," says Hornos CarneiroWhen the antioxidant reserves (electronic donors) in the cells are depleted, the amount of reactive oxygen and active nitrogen increasesBecause of their chemical instability, they "steal" electrons from mitochondria and other organelles, cell membranes, proteins, and even DNA, greatly damaging cells and potentially causing cell deathIf the problem becomes widespread, it will pose a major threat to such organisms"
this study measured the yield and hatching rate of fertilized eggs, as well as the number of adult offspringThe detected problems can be compared to human pregnancy difficulties, miscarriages and chromosomal abnormalities"BPA is a chemical pollutant that interferes with the endocrine, causing cell oxidative stress (imbalance between oxidants and antioxidant molecules) and causing damage to the condos and embryos," said Hornos Carneiro, who conducted the study under the direction of Professor Monica Paola Colai?co of the Royal College of Medicine"In this study, worms exposed to BPA and given CoQ10 showed lower egg cell mortality, fewer DNA fractures and fewer chromosomal abnormalities during cell division, and less cell oxidative stress"
in the experiment, the worm was exposed to different combinations of BPA, CoQ10, and solvent (DMSO): blank control, CoQ10, BPA, and BPA and CoQ10exposure to BPA is similar to human estimates"We know that in this day and age, it's almost impossible to avoid exposure to BPA and similar contaminants, so we're looking for a strategy to minimize their harmMany studies have shown that age reduces a woman's fertility rate because they are exposed to BPA (and other endocrine disruptors) all their lives, so it is impossible to confirm whether this is due to exposure to BPA or aging"
nematodes used in the study are genetically modified and insert fluorescent protein sequences into their DNA to observe protein expression in the bodyThe researchers used fluorescent antibodies as well as advanced microscope and molecular biology techniquesAs a result, researchers were able to observe in real time the effects of worm cell division (minus division) and embryo formation at the cellular and molecular levelsmimics estrogen
according to Hornos Carneiro, the chemical structure of BPA is similar to estrogen, which plays a key role in ovulation As a result, BPA can bind to human estrogen receptors, leading to a series of significant effects "Depending on the organization, these effects may be estrogen-supporting or anti-estrogen, affecting not only the reproductive system, but also other systems and processes that are important to a person's health," she said Hornos Carneiro is currently a professor at the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy at the Catholic University of Chile She conducted the study at the Riao Preto School of Pharmacy (FCFRP-USP) at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil and received an FAPESP scholarship for internships in postdoctoral studies overseas DNA fractures and mitochondrial dysfunction
according to Hornos Carneiro, the worm's exposure to BPA can lead to more DNA fractures "This may be due to the formation of reactive oxygen due to contaminants in the organism, and we found that the DNA fractures of this group of worms have not been properly repaired "
researchers observed the damage by monitoring a protein involved in DNA fracture and repair when exchanging genetic material between homologous chromosomes during minus-the-part division this exchange of genetic material, known as crossovers, is important for increasing genetic diversity and driving evolution "One hypothesis is that the increase in DNA fractures ( and inefficient repair ) is due to an increase in the stress of sexual adenoid oxidation caused by BPA , " she said image source: https://cn.bing.com
another finding is an increase in mitochondrial dysfunction Mitochondria are the cells that produce energy in cells Hornos Carneiro said: "Due to oxidative stress, the mitochondrial membrane potential of nematodes exposed only to BPA has changed significantly, and in the group receiving the CoQ10 supplement, this marker was greatly improved." "
effects on embryos
this experiment also looked at the effects of BPA on embryos As a female-male congenion, the beautiful hermit nematode is self-fertilized, so it can be observed that its reproductive glands develop all stages of reproductive cells during the deceleration division process until the polar body and embryo form Hornos Carneiro explained: "In this study, we used a technique called live imaging to observe the formation of embryos in the body The baseline for analyzing defects is the first cell division (the precise moment when a single-cell embryo divides into two parts) In a BPA-only group, more defects were observed, such as the formation of chromatin bridges and the cessation of cell division (BiovalleyBioon.com) References: Antioxidant sizzs damage stos fertility fertilcause by by exposure to bisphenol A
Maria Fernanda Hornos Carneiro et al, Antioxidant CoQ10 Fertils Fertility Reactor bybying Bisphenol A-Inducedve DNA In The Caen
habor DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302939