Effects of TBBPA Exposure on Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Mice

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a brominated flame retardant widely used in consumer products. TBBPA is often detected in soil, water, organisms, and even in human blood and breast milk. Hence, it is accessible to developing fetuses and nursing offspring after maternal exposure. The reported evidence for the endocrine disruption of TBBPA in the brain has raised concerns regarding its effects on neurodevelopmental and behavioral functions. This study investigated the effects of TBBPA exposure on neurodevelopment. A cell-based developmental neurotoxicity assay was performed to determine whether TBBPA is a developmental neurotoxicant. The assay revealed TBBPA to be a developmental neurotoxicant. C57BL/6N maternal mice were administered TBBPA at 0, 0.24, and 2.4 mg/kg during pregnancy and lactation, and their offspring underwent behavioral testing. The behavioral experiments revealed sex-specific effects. In females, only a deterioration of the motor ability was observed. In contrast, deteriorations in motor function, memory, and social interaction were noted in males. Furthermore, we validated changes in the expression of genes associated with behavioral abnormalities, confirming that perinatal exposure to TBBPA, at the administered doses, can affect neurodevelopment and behavior in offspring. These findings highlight the need for more in-depth and multifaceted research on the toxicity of TBBPA.