Long-term effects of aluminium on the fetal mouse brain

Potentially noxious substances may act as fetal teratogens at levels far lower than those required to produce detectable effects in adults, and behavioural teratogenicity may occur at levels lower than those which produce morphological teratogenesis. Aluminium (Al) is a potential neurotoxin in adults. Since pregnant women may be exposed to untoward levels of Al compounds under certain conditions, we have examined the long-term effects of treating the pregnant mouse with intraperitoneal or oral aluminium sulphate on brain biochemistry and behaviour of the offspring. The cholinergic system, as evaluated by the activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), was affected differentially in different regions of the brain, and still showed significant effects in the adult. Differences between the intraperitoneal and oral series in the magnitude of effect seen in the regions of the brain probably reflect differences in the effective level of exposure. Growth rate and psychomotor maturation in the pre-weaning mouse were affected in the intraperitoneal series only, showing a marked post-natal maternal effect.