Investigation of the protective effect of epigallocatechingallat on the morphology and viability of the rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells following treatment with Bisphenol A

Environmental contaminants such as bisphenol A, in addition to the environmental problems can affect human health. Epigallocatechingallat has been found to have antioxidant and cytoprotective properties in cultured cells but its effect on toxicity induced by bisphenol A has not yet been determined in mesenchymal stem cells. The aim of this investigation was to study the protective role of epigallocatechingallat in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells following treatment with bisphenol A(an oxidative stress inducer). In this experimental study, rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were extracted using flashing-out method and cultured in DMEM containing 15% FBS and 100U/ml Pen/Strep. At the end of the third passage, cells were divided into 4 groups: control, bisphenol A, bisphenol A + epigallocatechingallat and epigallocatechingallat. The groups were treated for 12, 24, 36, and 48 hrs. After treatment with bisphenol A and epigallocatechingallat, viability, morphology, rate of DNA damage and calcium content of the cells were evaluated. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA. p<0.05 was considered significant. Bisphenol A caused a significant reduction in the viability and calcium content of the cells. In addition, morphological changes such as nuclear breakage and chromatin condensation, as well as cytoplasm shrinkage, were observed in the group treated with bisphenol A. We found alterations in these parameters in the group of bisphenol A+ epigallocatechingallat which were similar to those observed in the control ones. Epigallocatechingallat can produce a protective role against the toxic effects of bisphenol A in the mesenchymal stem cells.