Effects of dental resin metabolites on estrogenic activity in vitro

Abstract

Three monomers (Bis-GMA, UDMA, and TEGDMA) and five polymerization initiators (CQ, BPO, DMPT, DMAEMA, and ATU) commonly used in dental composite resins were tested for estrogenic activity using a reporter gene assay (yeast two-hybrid system) in vitro, and compared with bisphenol-A (BPA). Estrogenic activity was indicated by agonist and antagonist activity, with (+S9) and without (−S9) metabolic activation using rat liver cells. No estrogenic agonist activity was seen for each monomer and polymerization initiator in either the −S9 and +S9 tests in the concentration ranges examined in this study. On the other hand, estrogen antagonist activity was found with BPO and DMPT. BPO showed antagonist activity at a concentration of ∼1800 nM with the −S9 test, but not with the +S9 test. With DMPT, antagonist activity was not seen with the −S9 test, but it was seen at a concentration of ∼610 nM using the +S9 test. With BPA, the +S9 test indicated antagonist activity at a concentration of ∼780 nM. The estrogen antagonist activities of DMPT and BPA appeared to be similar. CQ, DMAEMA, ATU, and the three monomers did not show antagonist activity as demonstrated by the −S9 or +S9 tests within the concentration range tested in this study.