Table 1.
Sex Differences in Behavioral Test Responses of Prepuberal and Adult Mice Prenatally or Postnatally Exposed to Vehicle (Control Oil) or to Bisphenol A (BPA 10 μg/kg body weight/day; Data from Gioiosa et al.).9
| Behavioral Test | Behavioral Response | Control oil | Prenatal BPA | Postnatal BPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novelty test (prepuberty) | Latency to novelty | F ≤ M | F = M | F = M↓ |
| Risk assessment | F ≤ M | F = M↓ | F = M↓ | |
| Exploration of novelty | F > M | ↓F = M | ↓F = M | |
| Self-grooming | F < M | F = M | ↑F > M | |
| Free-exploratory open field | Exploration | F > M | F = M | ↓F = M |
| Time center | F > M | F = M | ↓F < M | |
| Returns home | F > M | F = M | ↓F < M↑ | |
| Elevated plus maze | Entrance open arms | F > M | ↓F = M | ↓F = M |
| Time center | F > M | F > M | ↓F = M↑ | |
| Time closed arms | F < M | ↑F < M | ↑F = M |
Abbreviations: F = M, level of behavior do not significantly differ in males and females; F > M, levels of behavior significantly higher in females than in males; F < M, levels of behavior significantly lower in females than in males; ↓ and ↑ statistically significant decrease or increase of behavior following BPA exposure as analyzed by 2-way ANOVA with sex (male and female) and exposure (prenatal BPA, postnatal BPA, and oil) as factors. Each treatment group consisted of 12 to 15 animals per sex; F, female; M, male; ANOVA, analysis of variance; BPA, bisphenol A.