Nonylphenol (NP) is an environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical that has been detected in human cord blood and milk. Developmental exposure to NP is unavoidable and can lead to hyperadrenalism, a syndrome that resembles Cushing's disease and has a life-long impact on the affected individual. In this study, we investigated the recovery of female rats from developmental exposure to NP and the effects of such exposure on future generations. Female rats were time-mated, and rats in the experimental group (NP group) were administered NP in drinking water (2 mu g/mL) throughout gestation and lactation. Pregnant females in the control group were given water only (Veh group). The resulting litters were recognized as the first-generation F-1 offspring. The F-1 females were time-mated with non-sibling F-1 males within the same treatment group. NP was not administered after the F-0 generation. The treatment procedures for F-3 offspring were identical to those for the F-2 generation. The experimental results showed that the observed characteristics of the F-3 NP generation had reverted to normal and resembled those of the F-3 Veh generation. Thus, our study indicated that developmental exposure to NP resulted in a life-long impact on the exposed individual, but that recovery to the "normal" state was possible if further NP exposure was prevented. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
