In vitro blastocyst implantation and trophoblast migration are disrupted by the UV filter benzophenone-3 (BP3)

Abstract

Abstract Benzophenone-3 (BP3), a common ingredient in personal care products (PCPs) due to its well-established effectiveness in blocking UV radiation, is considered an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) mainly based on in vitro estrogenic and antiandrogenic effects. Sunscreen products are among the most widely used PCPs-containing BP3 applied to the skin, resulting in significant human exposure to BP3 primarily through a dermal application. In the present work, we have tested the action of BP3 using an in vitro model of anchoring and implantation of murine blastocysts as well as by analyzing the migration ability of the human trophoblast cell line Swan 71. BP3 concentrations used in our experiments were: a) 2 µg/L, based on the predicted no-effect concentration for aquatic environments; b) 20 µg/L, similar to the levels of BP3 detected in serum and amniotic fluid of pregnant mice exposed to BP3 from gestation day 0 to gd 6 by dermal exposure; and c) BP3-200 µg/L, based on plasma concentrations reached by BP3 after a whole body topical application of sunscreens in humans. We found that BP3 negatively affected critical parameters of both in vitro implantation and early embryo development and reduced trophoblast migration through the androgen receptor (AR) pathway. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that BP3 can affect early in vitro embryo implantation and trophoblast migration capacity.