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Published on: November 20, 2015
Neurobehavioral and somatic effects of perinatal PCB exposure in rats
S R Overmann1, J Kostas, L R Wilson
1Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany 12201.
Insights
Perinatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in rats, even at low doses, impaired neurobehavioral development and altered somatic growth. These findings highlight the significant impact of developmental PCB exposure on offspring health.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental pollutants with known neurotoxic effects.
- Developmental exposure to environmental toxins can lead to long-term health consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of perinatal polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure on neurobehavioral and somatic development in rats.
- To determine dose-dependent effects of Aroclor 1254 on developing rat pups.
Main Methods:
- Sperm-positive female rats were fed diets containing varying concentrations of Aroclor 1254 (0.02, 2.5, 26, or 269 ppm) from mating to weaning.
- Neurobehavioral tests (negative geotaxis, auditory startle, air righting, forepaw suspension, eye opening, maximal electroshock seizure) and somatic measurements (body weight, organ weights) were performed.
Main Results:
- High-dose (269 ppm) PCB exposure resulted in reduced litter size, lower pup birth weight, and high pup mortality.
- Lower doses (2.5 and 26 ppm) led to delayed neurobehavioral development, reduced preweaning growth, and altered seizure severity.
- PCB exposure increased liver weights and decreased thymus and spleen weights in pups, with detectable PCB levels in adult rat brains.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal PCB exposure significantly alters neurobehavioral ontogeny and somatic development in rats.
- Even low-dose developmental PCB exposure can have detrimental effects on offspring.
- Findings underscore the importance of minimizing environmental PCB exposure during critical developmental windows.
Abstract:
Developing rats were exposed to PCBs via provision of diets containing 0.02 (no PCB added), 2.5, 26, or 269 ppm Aroclor 1254 to sperm-positive female rats from mating to weaning of their pups. Provision of the 269 ppm diet decreased the number of impregnated rats that delivered a litter and lowered pup birth weight, and most pups died within 7 days of birth. Pregnancy success, pup birth weight, and dam body weight and food intake were not altered in the 2.5 and 26 ppm conditions. Preweaning pup growth was reduced in the 26 ppm condition and slightly reduced in the 2.5 ppm condition. The ontogeny of negative geotaxis, auditory startle, and air righting was delayed in pups from the 26 ppm condition. Pups in the 2.5 ppm condition had slightly delayed development of auditory startle. PCB exposure did not affect the duration of forepaw suspension or age at eye opening. Maximal electroshock seizure tests on postweaning rats showed that perinatal PCB exposure decreased seizure severity of both the 2.5 and 26 ppm groups as indicated by increased durations of forelimb and hindlimb flexion and decreased duration of hindlimb extension. PCB exposure increased pup liver weights at birth and dam and pup liver weights at weaning. Spleen and thymus weights were lower in PCB-exposed pups, while brain weights were unaffected. Analytical determination of PCB levels in brain showed greater maternal transfer of PCBs during lactation than during gestation. Elevated PCB levels were detectable in brains of perinatally exposed adult rats. The results indicate that perinatal PCB exposure of rats alters neurobehavioral and somatic ontogeny.
