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Behavioral changes following PCB 153 exposure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat - an animal model of
Espen Borgå Johansen1, Frode Fonnum, Per L Lausund
1Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. EspenBorga.Johansen@hioa.no.
Insights
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exposure impacts Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-like behaviors in rats, with effects varying by dose, sex, and genetic strain. High PCB 153 doses may worsen ADHD symptoms in vulnerable individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Environmental Toxicology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects 3-5% of children and is influenced by genetics and environmental factors.
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals linked to neurobiological and cognitive impairments.
- PCBs may contribute to ADHD-like behaviors, necessitating further investigation into their environmental impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between exposure to PCB 153 and ADHD-like behaviors.
- To examine these effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR/NCrl), an animal model for ADHD, and Wistar Kyoto (WKY/NHsd) controls.
- To assess the influence of different doses, sexes, and exposure timings on behavioral outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Male and female SHR/NCrl and WKY/NHsd rats were exposed to PCB 153 (1, 3, or 6 mg/kg) or corn oil vehicle at postnatal days 8, 14, and 20.
- Behavioral testing was conducted from postnatal day 37 to 64 using an operant procedure.
- The study analyzed dose-dependent and sex-specific effects of PCB 153 exposure.
Main Results:
- PCB 153 exposure induced significant, long-lasting behavioral changes in SHR/NCrl rats.
- A non-linear dose-response was observed: 1 mg/kg PCB 153 reduced ADHD-like behaviors, while 3 and 6 mg/kg exacerbated them, particularly in females.
- PCB 153 exposure caused limited behavioral changes in male WKY/NHsd controls, indicating strain and sex interactions.
Conclusions:
- PCB 153 exposure interacts with genetic strain, sex, dose, and exposure timing.
- High PCB 153 doses may exacerbate ADHD symptoms in genetically susceptible individuals.
- In control populations, PCB 153 may not cause full ADHD but can induce specific behavioral alterations.
Background:
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral disorder affecting 3-5% of children. Although ADHD is highly heritable, environmental factors like exposure during early development to various toxic substances like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may contribute to the prevalence. PCBs are a group of chemical industrial compounds with adverse effects on neurobiological and cognitive functioning, and may produce behavioral impairments that share significant similarities with ADHD. The present study examined the relation between exposure to PCB 153 and changes in ADHD-like behavior in an animal model of ADHD, the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR/NCrl), and in Wistar Kyoto (WKY/NHsd) controls.
Methods:
SHR/NCrl and WKY/NHsd, males and females, were orally given PCB 153 dissolved in corn oil at around postnatal day (PND) 8, 14, and 20 at a dosage of 1, 3 or 6 mg/kg bodyweight at each exposure. The control groups were orally administered corn oil only. The animals were behaviorally tested for exposure effects from PND 37 to 64 using an operant procedure.
Results:
Exposure to PCB 153 was associated with pronounced and long-lasting behavioral changes in SHR/NCrl. Exposure effects in the SHR/NCrl depended on dose, where 1 mg/kg tended to reduce ADHD-like behaviors and produce opposite behavioral effects compared to 3 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg, especially in the females. In the WKY/NHsd controls and for the three doses tested, PCB 153 exposure produced a few specific behavioral changes only in males. The data suggest that PCB 153 exposure interacts with strain and sex, and also indicate a non-linear dose-response relation for the behaviors observed.
Conclusions:
Exposure to PCB 153 seems to interact with several variables including strain, sex, dose, and time of testing. To the extent that the present findings can be generalized to humans, exposure effects of PCB 153 on ADHD behavior depends on amount of exposure, where high doses may aggravate ADHD symptoms in genetically vulnerable individuals. In normal controls, exposure may not constitute an environmental risk factor for developing the full range of ADHD symptoms, but can produce specific behavioral changes.
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