Promoting insulin secretion in pancreatic islets by means of bisphenol A and nonylphenol via intracellular estrogen receptors

In this study, we investigated the effects of endocrine disrupters bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol (NP) on insulin secretion from rat pancreatic islets. Following acute exposure to BPA and NP, neither BPA nor NP (0.1, 1, 10, 100 and 1000 μg/l) affected insulin secretion in concentrations of 16.7 mM glucose. However, insulin secretion following long-term exposure to BPA or NP for 24 h in 16.7 mM glucose was significantly higher than without exposure. To determine whether increased insulin secretion resulting from long-term exposure to BPA and NP is induced via intracellular estrogen receptors, we blocked the cytosolic/nuclear estrogen receptors, using actinomycin-D (Act-D), an inhibitor of RNA synthesis, and ICI 182,780 (ICI), an estrogen receptor inhibitor. Following long-term exposure to BPA (10 μg/l) or NP (10 μg/l), Act-D or ICI treatment eliminated the facilitation of insulin secretion. In conclusion, we have demonstrated for the first time that long-term exposure to endocrine disrupters, such as BPA and NP, promotes in vitro insulin secretion from the pancreatic islets, via cytosolic/nuclear estrogen receptors.