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Developmental exposure to the Fox River PCB mixture modulates behavior in juvenile mice
Rebecca J Wilson1, Youjun P Suh2, Ilknur Dursun3
1Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Neurotoxicology
|June 17, 2024
Summary
Developmental exposure to the Fox River Mixture (FRM), a contemporary polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) mixture, impaired social behaviors and communication in mouse pups. These findings suggest current PCB exposures pose risks to neurodevelopment, impacting social novelty and communication skills.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Developmental Neurotoxicity
Background:
- Developmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs).
- Contemporary PCB congener profiles differ from legacy mixtures, necessitating investigation into their specific neurotoxic effects.
- The Fox River Mixture (FRM) represents a contemporary PCB profile found in human food sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the developmental neurotoxicity of the Fox River Mixture (FRM) in a mouse model.
- To determine if FRM exposure during gestation and lactation affects neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring.
- To evaluate the impact of FRM on social behavior, communication, and thyroid hormone levels.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant mice were exposed to vehicle or FRM (0.1, 1.0, 6.0 mg/kg/d) throughout gestation and lactation.
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes assessed included ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), general development, spontaneous alternation, and social novelty tasks.
- Serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were quantified in dams and pups.
Main Results:
- FRM exposure significantly decreased USVs in pups at P7.
- FRM impaired social novelty performance in both male and female pups across multiple dose groups.
- FRM altered serum T3 and T4 levels in a sex-, age-, and dose-dependent manner, but these changes did not fully explain behavioral deficits.
Conclusions:
- Developmental exposure to the FRM interferes with social communication and social novelty in mice.
- Contemporary PCB mixtures like FRM pose a risk to the developing brain, impacting crucial social behaviors.
- Thyroid hormone alterations may not be the primary mechanism driving FRM-induced behavioral deficits.
