NTU Undergraduates' research April 2014 - Biosciences | Page 14

THE IMPACT OF DIETHYLSTILBESTROL, BISPHENOL-A AND POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS ON
NEURONAL FUNCTION
Victory I. Poloamina

Abstract
Neurosteroids play a very essential role in the function of the central nervous system. Different
methods of research have yielded results that suggest the involvement of hormones in neuronal
functions. The discovery of environmental chemicals that could mimic the effects of these
hormones (endocrine disruptors), implied that the function of the central nervous system could
also be affected. Various investigations have shown that indeed these endocrine disruptors mostly
have a negative impact on the neuronal function. Bisphenol-A, polychlorinated biphenyls and
diethylstilboestrol are the chosen endocrine disruptors for this review article. Most of the
physiological

functions

were

affected

by

bisphenol-A

and

polychlorinated

biphenyls.

Diethylstilboestrol, on the other hand, had an indirect effect on neuronal development and an
obvious effect on cognition and behaviour. The level of protein expression, synaptic function and
neuronal differentiation were significantly affected in most of the experiments. These effects were
related to impairments in other neuronal functions such as neuronal degeneration and
development. However, there were other observations that were unique to a specific function. For
instance, alteration of reactive oxygen species levels were associated with neuronal degeneration.
The comparison of the methods used are discussed here.
KEYWORDS: Bisphenol-A, Diethylstilboestrol, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals.