Effect of Nonylphenol Exposure during Gestation and Lactation on Expression of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) in Filial Rats Liver

Objectives To observe the adverse effect of nonylphenol exposure during gestation and lactation on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the liver of filial rats.

Methods Pregnant rats were randomly assigned to an exposure group and a control group, and they were treated by gavage with NP 200 mg/kg·day (exposure group) or groundnut oil (vehicle control) from the 6^th day of gestation to the 21^th day after giving birth. The expression of PCNA and liver functions (TP, ALB, PA and GLB)of filial rats were detected at 60 days of age.

Results Compared with the control group, the number of PCNA positive cells in the liver of filial rats in exposure group was markedly increased (P < 0.01) and the optical density was higher (P < 0.01). The values of TP and ALB in the exposure group were significantly different from the control group (P < 0.05) and no significant difference on PA and GLB between the exposure and control group was observed (P=0.194 and 0.644).

Conclusions Exposure to NP during gestation and lactation might induce an increase of PCNA expression in the liver of filial rats, namely an increase of cells with a state of proliferating, which indicated that an exposure of NP during gestation and lactation might have an adverse effect on the liver of pups.