Effect of prenatal exposure to diesel exhaust on dopaminergic system in mice

Diesel exhaust (DE) is composed of particles and gaseous compounds. It has been reported that DE causes pulmonary and cardiovascular disease. We have previously reported that fetal exposure to DE had deleterious effects to the reproductive system of mice offspring. However, there is still little known about the effects of prenatal exposure to DE to the central nervous system (CNS). In the present study, we found that prenatal exposure to DE induced reduction of locomotion, furthermore, dopamine (DA) turnover was significantly decreased in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. These results suggest that prenatal exposure to DE has an effect on the CNS. Hypolocomotion could be due to a decrease in DA turnover associated with DA nervous system abnormality. The present study provides the possibility that maternally inhaled DE might influence the development of central dopaminergic system and result in behavior disorder.