Fig. 3.

Effect of MPs/NPs and associated plasticizers on the adrenal gland. (a) Exposure of the adrenal gland to polystyrene nanopolymers (PS-NPs) and plasticizer (BPA) activates the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) stress axis. This stimulates release of ACTH from pituitary gland, which in turn increases the level of cortisol in the bloodstream. BPA increases the plasma corticosterone level which in turn increases StAR protein via an unidentified mechanism [73,68]. (b) The possible chemical mechanism via which BPA increases cell proliferation in human adrenal cells has been depicted schematically.