en Biology & physiology Biology & physiology پژوهشي Orginal research papers Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic compound widely used in types of consumer goods and medical tools. It has been shown that BPA acts as an endocrine disruptor chemical casuing negative impact on reproductive functions. The present study used an <em>in vitro</em> approach to assess estrogenic transcriptional activity of BPA as a rapid and sensitive method. The cultured pieces of hepatic tissue of goldfish (<em>Carassius auratus</em>) were exposed to 1, 5, 25 &mu;g L^-1 BPA and 1 &mu;g L^-1 E₂ for comparison over 24 h. Compared to control, the mRNA transcript of <em>er&beta;-I</em> showed a significant increase in the hepatic tissues exposed to all doses of BPA and E₂. The mRNA transcript of <em>er&beta;-II</em> was signifincantly increased in hepatic tissues exposed to 1 and 5 &mu;g L^-1 BPA and E₂. The mRNA transcripts of <em>vtg</em> in the hepatic tissues treated with 5 &mu;g L^-1 BPA and E₂ were also increased, significantly. Finally, <em>cyp1a</em> mRNA transcript showed a significant increase in the hepatic tissues exposed to 5 and 25 &mu;g L^-1 BPA and E₂. These results show an estrogenic activity of BPA similar to E₂, and suggest that <em>in vitro</em> approach can be used as an alternative to <em>in vivo</em> test to detect estrogenic effects of BPA.<br> &nbsp; BPA, Esterogenic activity, Vitellogenin, mRNA transcript 2877 2892 http://jifro.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2686-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 M. Golshan mahdigolshan@yahoo.com 100319475328460038302 100319475328460038302 Yes Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization A. Hatef azadeh.hatef@usask.ca 100319475328460038303 100319475328460038303 No Laboratory of Integrative Neuroendocrinology, Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan H.R. Habibi habibi@ucalgary.ca 100319475328460038304 100319475328460038304 No Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary S.M.H. Alavi hadi.alavi@ut.ac.ir 100319475328460038305 100319475328460038305 No School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran