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Effects of Tributyltin Chloride on Human Neuronal Differentiation and Mice Brain Development
Ester López-Gallardo1,2,3, Patricia Meade1,2,3,4, Irene Jiménez-Salvador1,2
1Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
Environmental Toxicology
|January 28, 2026
Summary
Perinatal exposure to tributyltin chloride, an environmental pollutant, impairs neuronal development and alters DNA methylation in mice. This early exposure may lead to long-term neurodevelopmental consequences and potential neurodegenerative diseases later in life.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Neuroscience
- Developmental biology
Background:
- The developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis suggests perinatal exposure to toxicants can cause permanent cellular changes, increasing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Tributyltin chloride (TBTC) is an environmental pollutant known to disrupt oxidative phosphorylation and negatively impact the nervous system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of perinatal tributyltin chloride exposure on neuronal differentiation in vitro and brain development in vivo.
- To assess the impact of TBTC on cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopment.
Main Methods:
- Studied neuronal differentiation of human neuroblastoma and neural stem cells exposed to TBTC (≤100 nM).
- Exposed pregnant mice to TBTC (0-1000 nM) during gestation and lactation.
- Performed genetic-molecular, biochemical, cellular, histological, and functional tests on cells and two-year-old mice.
Main Results:
- TBTC exposure decreased oxidative phosphorylation activity, affecting neuronal differentiation in vitro.
- Perinatal TBTC exposure in mice led to altered global DNA methylation levels.
- Histological brain changes and potential long-term neurodevelopmental alterations were observed in mice.
Conclusions:
- Early-life exposure to tributyltin chloride can disrupt critical cellular processes in neuronal development.
- TBTC exposure during development may induce lasting epigenetic modifications and histological brain changes.
- Alterations in brain development due to early TBTC exposure may have long-term health consequences, potentially contributing to neurodegeneration.
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