Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Obesity, and associated metabolic dysfunctions such as type II diabetes and the metabolic syndrome are a growing epidemic in Canada. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a component of many plastics and epoxy resins. It is commonly found in the lining of food and drink containers, and can be detected in over 90% of Canadians. Because the chemical structure of BPA allows it to mimic the hormone estrogen, the possibility that exposure to BPA may affect human health and endocrine function is of great concern. Recent studies including our own have demonstrated that early-life exposure to low concentrations of BPA predisposes rodents to obesity and metabolic dysfunction later in life. The purpose of this study was to explore whether exposure to BPA at concentrations similar to those found in the environment could, in addition to promoting obesity, affect the organization of neurons within the hypothalamus - a brain region critical in controlling food intake and energy expenditure. Using a combination of methods, we demonstrate here for the first time that early-life exposure to BPA at environmentally relevant doses permanently alters the expression of appetite and energy expenditure related genes in key regions of the hypothalamus. Because obesity and metabolic syndrome are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Canada, these findings carry significant health implications. Improved understanding of the long-term effects of exposure to this ubiquitous compound will also help guide future regulatory decisions.