Effects of Bisphenol A on Sex Differentiation and Gonadal Development of Medaka, Oryzias latipes

A study on the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on sex differentiation and gonadal development in medaka, Oryzias latipes, was investigated by histological examination. The fish were exposed to aqueous solutions of BPA at nominal concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L from newly-hatched larvae stage to 70 d. The ovaries of female fish were composed of oocytes at the chromatin nucleolus and peri-nucleolus stages at 20 d after the exposure. The testes contained a number of spermatogonia and spermatocytes at 30 d. In the process of sex differentiation. gonadal development was not different in all experimental groups until 30 d after the exposure. At 70 d after the exposure, however, advanced development of oocytes in the ovary and inhibition of spermatogenesis in the testis were observed in the BPA-treated groups compared to the non-treated controls. More females than males were identified in the 50 and 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L BPA-treated groups, in comparison to the 200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L BPA-treated group and non-treated controls. Medaka exposed to 200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L BPA were bigger compared to other experimental groups. The present study suggests that BPA may lead to problems in either mating or sexual behavior due to the difference in growth and disparity of sexual maturation between male and female fish.