The Study
Bisphenol A attenuates testosterone synthesis via increasing apolipoprotein A1-mediated reverse cholesterol transport in mice
This study looked at how a chemical called BPA affects testosterone in mice and mouse cells in a lab. It found that when mice got BPA, their testosterone went down and some related proteins changed. But this doesn't mean BPA does the same thing in people — we only tested it in mice and cells.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
BPA, a chemical in plastics, tricks the body into removing too much cholesterol from testosterone-making cells, starving them of the raw material they need.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 518 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — since cholesterol is essential for testosterone, this mechanism could explain reduced male fertility and hormonal issues in humans exposed to BPA.
- 2In mice: BPA lowered testosterone by 30–50% (P<0.01), cut free cholesterol by 40% (P<0.001), and doubled APOA1 protein levels.
- 3In cells: 20 μmol/L BPA cut testosterone by 25% (P<0.05), reversed by adding 22-OH-Chol.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Frontiers in Endocrinology
Year
2025
Authors
Tong Zhao, Wenzhe Yang, Feilong Pan, Jinhao Wang, Wenqi Shao, Fangfang Chen, Kexiang Liu, Shuchen Zhao, Lijia Zhao
Related Content
Claims (6)
Cholesterol is required to produce sex hormones, and very low-cholesterol diets are associated with disrupted menstrual cycles and earlier decline in reproductive function.
In male mice given 20 mg/kg of bisphenol A, the levels of apolipoprotein A2 and apolipoprotein C3 in testicular tissue remain unchanged, but bisphenol A affects reverse cholesterol transport through apolipoprotein A1 only.
At a concentration of 20 micromoles per liter, bisphenol A does not cause cell death in mouse Leydig cells after 24 hours, but at 40 micromoles per liter, it increases late-stage cell death. This suggests that reduced testosterone production at the lower dose is not caused by cell death.
Exposing adult male mice to 20 mg/kg of bisphenol A for 7 days reduces testosterone levels in the testes and blood, decreases free cholesterol in testicular tissue, and reduces lipid droplet accumulation in the testes.
In male mice, a dose of 20 mg/kg of bisphenol A increases apolipoprotein A1 in testicular tissue, which raises HDL cholesterol and lowers free cholesterol, and this process is linked to reduced testosterone levels.
In mouse Leydig cells treated with 20 μmol/L bisphenol A for 24 hours, apolipoprotein A1 levels rise, free cholesterol levels fall, and testosterone production decreases; adding 22-hydroxycholesterol partially restores testosterone production.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.