Gracilaria changii (Rhodophyta) alleviates bisphenol A-induced adverse reproductive abnormalities in mice

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<jats:title>Objective:</jats:title>
<jats:p>To evaluate the potential of <jats:italic toggle="yes">Gracilaria changii</jats:italic> extract in ameliorating the potential adverse effects of bisphenol A.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Methods:</jats:title>
<jats:p>The antioxidant capacity of <jats:italic toggle="yes">Gracilaria changii</jats:italic> extracted using different solvents (methanol, ethanol, and aqueous) was studied. The mice were administered by oral gavage with bisphenol A (60 mg/kg body weight) for 6 weeks with or without <jats:italic toggle="yes">Gracilaria changii</jats:italic> aqueous extract. Thereafter, the mice were either euthanized for histology and immunohistochemistry studies or mated to evaluate the pregnancy rate.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Results:</jats:title>
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<jats:italic toggle="yes">Gracilaria changii</jats:italic> aqueous extract showed the highest antioxidant properties compared with extract using methanol and ethanol. The aqueous extract of <jats:italic toggle="yes">Gracilaria changii</jats:italic> improved the uterus index and uterine lipid peroxidation after bisphenol A exposure, although the uterine expressions of estrogen receptors and complement C3 were not improved. Histological evaluation of the uterus during the estrus stage has revealed that the extract could mitigate bisphenol A-induced adverse effects in the uterus as there was a lower percentage of mice showing abnormalities like decreased eosin staining in the myometrium, and decrease in the number of eosinophil and endometrial glands in the endometrium. Besides, <jats:italic toggle="yes">Gracilaria changii</jats:italic> aqueous extract improved the pregnancy rate of mice administered with bisphenol A.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Conclusions:</jats:title>
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<jats:italic toggle="yes">Gracilaria changii</jats:italic> extract protects against bisphenol A-induced female reproductive abnormalities in mice which may be mediated <jats:italic toggle="yes">via</jats:italic> modulation of eosinophil migration, endometrial gland formation, and protein expressions associated with prostaglandins in the myometrium.</jats:p>
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