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Effects of brominated flame retardants on calcium buffering mechanisms in rat brain in vitro.
Citation:
Coburn, C. G., M. C. Curras-Collazo, AND PRASADA RAO S. KODAVANTI. Effects of brominated flame retardants on calcium buffering mechanisms in rat brain in vitro. Presented at American Society for Neurochemistry, San Antonio, TX, March 01 - 05, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
To support criteria for MYP.
Description:
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs; used as additive flame-retardants) have been detected in human blood, adipose tissue, and breast milk. Developmental and long-term exposures to these chemicals may pose a human health risk, especially to children. It has been demonstrated that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are structurally similar to PBDEs and cause neurotoxicity, perturb intracellular signaling events including calcium (Ca) homeostasis that is critical for the neuronal function and development of the nervous system. The objective of the present study was to test whether environmentally relevant PBDE congeners 47 and 99 perturb Ca homeostasis. Calcium buffering was determined by measuring the Puptake of labeled calcium by microsomes and mitochondria, isolated from adult male rat brain (frontal cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus and hypothalamus). Results show that PBDEs 47 and 99 inhibit both microsomal and mitochondrial PPcalcium uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of these congeners on CaP-uptake is similar in all four brain regions though the hypothalamus seems to be slightly more sensitive. Between the two organelles, the congeners inhibited mitochondrial PCaPP-uptake to a greater extent than microsomal PCaP-uptake. These results indicate that PBDE 47 and PBDE 99 perturbed calcium signaling in rat brain in a similar manner as do PCBs suggesting a common mode of action of these persistent chemicals. (This abstract does not necessarily reflect USEPA policy).