A team led by scientists at The University of Manchester has discovered how exposure in pregnant mothers to a chemical found in many plastics alters the expression of a protein linked to fetal growth restriction (FGR) in boys.
The study, published in Biology of Reproduction, is the first to compare the biological effect of Bisphenol A (BPA) - found in canned food, plastic bottles, food containers, toys, and medical equipment - on male and female placental tissue- a powerful indicator of an unborn baby’s health.
Levels of Estrogen Related Receptor Gamma (ESSRG), an important gene in human placenta and a receptor for BPA, was half as abundant in male than in female placental tissue after treating with BPA, they found.
Though its causes are still unclear, FGR occurs when the placenta is not working well enough to provide a baby with the nutrients to grow normally, and is linked to an increased risk of complications in pregnancy.
Babies born with FGR are also at heightened risk of high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes and thyroid disease in later life.
Most babies that are smaller than expected will grow up healthy, however according to Tommy’s, up to 10% of pregnancies will be affected by FGR and need close monitoring during pregnancy.
The study was funded by Tommy’s, The University of Manchester and the China Scholarship Council.
Scientists already know that more than 90% of humans have BPA in their blood and urine and that exposure during pregnancy can be associated with low fetal weight, particularly in boys.
Though an association between FGR and BPA exposure has been identified in epidemiological studies, the study is the first to discover a potential biological mechanism.