An Intensified Acrolein Exposure Can Affect Memory and Cognition in Rat

Acrolein is a clear, colorless liquid and a highly reactive α, β-unsaturated aldehyde. Acrolein, a byproduct and initiator of oxidative stress, has a major role in the pathogenesis of disorders including pulmonary, cardiovascular, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases. Environmental or dietary exposure and endogenous production are common sources of acrolein. Widespread exposure to acrolein is a major risk for human health; therefore, we decided to investigate the neurological effects of acrolein. In this study, we used male Sprague-Dawley rats and exposed them orally to acrolein (0.5, 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg/day) for 90 days and investigated the neurobehavioral and electrophysiological disturbances. We also assessed the correlation between neurotoxicity and CSF concentration of acrolein in the rats. The results showed that chronic oral administration of acrolein at 5 mg/kg/day impaired learning and memory in the neurobehavioral tests. In addition, acrolein decreased the release of excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate in electrophysiological studies. Our data demonstrated that chronic oral exposure of acrolein at a dose of 5 mg/kg leads to a direct correlation between neurotoxicity and its CSF concentration. In conclusion, exposure to acrolein as a major pollutant in the environment may cause cognitive problems and may have serious neurocognitive effects on humans.