Comparative effects of genistein and bisphenol A on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in laying hens

Bisphenol A (BPA) and genistein (GEN) are selective estrogen receptor modulators, which are involved in the occurrence and development of metabolic syndrome. However, their roles in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) of laying hens have not been reported. Here, we investigated the effects of different concentrations of GEN and BPA on the NAFLD of laying hens. Results showed that GEN ameliorated the high-energy and low-protein diet (HELP)-induced NAFLD by improving pathological damage, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance and blocking the expression of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-related factors. By contrast, high dose of BPA could aggravate these changes with serious symptom of NAFLD and suppress the level of ER alpha in the liver considerably, while GEN could reverse this phenomenon in a dose-dependent manner. In general, our research shows that the protective effect of GEN on NAFLD aims to improve the metabolic disorders and inflammation closely connected to ER alpha, while BPA can inhibit the expression of ER alpha and exacerbate the symptom of NAFLD. In conclusion, we elucidate the opposing effects of GEN and BPA in NAFLD of laying hens, thus providing a potential mechanism related to ER alpha and inflammation.

Automated summary

The study found that genistein (GEN) can alleviate the pathological damage, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance induced by a high-energy low-protein diet in laying hens, while bisphenol A (BPA) can exacerbate NAFLD symptoms and suppress ER alpha levels in the liver, with GEN being able to reverse this effect.