A novel experimental approach for liver analysis in rats exposed to Bisphenol A by means of LC-mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy

• Published in: Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis Vol. 165; pp. 207 - 212
• Main Authors: Errico, Sonia, Portaccio, Marianna, Nicolucci, Carla, Meccariello, Rosaria, Chianese, Rosanna, Scafuro, Marika, Lepore, Maria, Diano, Nadia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 20.02.2019
• Subjects: Animals; Benzhydryl Compounds - analysis; Benzhydryl Compounds - pharmacokinetics; Benzhydryl Compounds - toxicity; Bisphenol A exposure; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - diagnosis; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - etiology; Chromatography, Liquid - methods; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Infrared spectroscopy; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Male; Mass spectrometry; Metabolic disturbance; Phenols - analysis; Phenols - pharmacokinetics; Phenols - toxicity; Rat liver; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Spectrophotometry, Infrared - methods; Tandem Mass Spectrometry - methods; Tissue Distribution; Infrared spectroscopy; Rat liver; Mass spectrometry; Metabolic disturbance; Bisphenol A exposure
• ISSN: 0731-7085; 1873-264X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2018.12.011

[Display omitted] •Internal biological monitoring for eliminating uncontrolled exposure is a demanding task.•For this aim a novel approach using a LC–MS/MS method and IR spectroscopy is proposed.•A LC–MS/MS method allowed the measurement of BPA levels in liver of low-dose exposed rats.•IR spectroscopy allowed the detection of BPA-induced changes in liver biochemical composition.•Different lipid and glycogen contents were evidenced in normal histological samples. An innovative complementary approach using a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometer method and infrared spectroscopy is proposed for measuring internal biological exposure to dangerous chemical contaminants and for monitoring biochemical changes in target organs. The proposed methodologies were validated and applied in the case of rats exposed to low-doses of Bisphenol A (BPA). A liquid chromatographic method coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer was used in order to measure BPA concentration in rat livers. BPA was detected at different levels in all liver samples from BPA-treated rats, although the exposure dose was the same in all treated animals, and also from control rats, highlighting the difficulties in eliminating external uncontrolled exposure and the need for internal biological monitoring. Fourier Transform Infrared analysis was applied to detect structural changes occurring in several molecules (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids) as well as the presence of specific metabolic processes. The spectroscopic analyses clearly demonstrated a different lipid composition more than an evident lipid accumulation and a glycogen accumulation decrease, revealing a metabolic disturbance in livers with a normal histological aspect. These results demonstrated the potential of an integrated approach based on mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy to evaluate at an early stage the hepatotoxic effect of BPA exposure in an animal model. This approach can be usefully exploited in all the investigations aimed to provide better information concerning the interrelationships between contaminant exposure, dose, and health effects.