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DEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATIONS OF C57BL/6 MICE EXPOSED TO 2,2',4,4'-BROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHER (DE47) ON POSTNATAL DAY 10.
Citation:
GEE, J. R. AND V. C. MOSER. DEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATIONS OF C57BL/6 MICE EXPOSED TO 2,2',4,4'-BROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHER (DE47) ON POSTNATAL DAY 10. Presented at Neurobehavioral Toxicology Society, Pittsburgh, PA, June 23 - 27, 2007.
Description:
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used commercial flame retardants that are accumulating in the environment. 2,2',4,4'-Brominated diphenyl ether (DE47) is the most stable congener of this group and is undergoing the most rapid accumulation in humans, despite the discontinuation of its use in commercial products. Recent studies have indicated that children may suffer the greatest burden of these contaminates due to increased overall exposure and body burden compared to adults. PBDEs may interfere with the development of key biological systems, thus leaving children vulnerable to functional impairments in adulthood. There is a growing literature of animal studies which show subtle changes in motor and cognitive function following acute or repeated perinatal exposure to PBDEs. The current study examined developmental milestones in male C57BL/6 mice orally exposed to a single oral dose of DE47 (0, 1, 10, or 30 mg/kg) on postnatal day (PND) 10. Behavioral endpoints assessing sensory and motor maturation were examined on PNDs 12, 14, 16, and 18. Motor activity during a 60-minute session was also examined on PND 57 in a separate group of mice. DE47 exposure did not alter weight gain at any time after dosing. There was a trend toward altered ontogeny in motor development as measured with two neuromuscular tasks; however, these changes were not consistently dose-related. Other developmental milestones and sensory responses were not altered. On PND 57, there was a significant change in horizontal, but not vertical, activity during the first 20-minutes of the session; again, there was not a clear dose-response. No difference was seen later in the activity session. These data indicate that acute exposure to DE47 during postnatal development may produce subtle changes in the development of motor systems and activity levels post-weaning.
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