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Neurodevelopmental effects of inhaled vapors of gasoline and ethanol in rats
Citation:
Bushnell, P., T. Beasley, W. Oshiro, P. Evansky, S. Martin, V. C. Moser, Kathy Mcdaniel, P. Phillips, J. Norwood, M. Gilbert, Michele Taylor, C. Gordon, C. Grace, AND J. Rogers. Neurodevelopmental effects of inhaled vapors of gasoline and ethanol in rats. Presented at Society of Toxicology, March 10 - 14, 2013.
Impact/Purpose:
This abstract will be presented at the Society of Toxicology meeting March 10-14, 2013, San Antonio, TX
Description:
Gasoline-ethanol blends comprise the major fraction of the fuel used in the US automotive fleet. To address uncertainties regarding the health risks associated with exposure to gasoline with more than 10% ethanol, we are assessing the effects of prenatal exposure to inhaled vapors of gasoline-ethanol blends. Pregnant Long-Evans rats are exposed to fuel vapors, 6.5 hr/day, on days 9—20 of gestation, and their offspring are assessed for a variety of neurodevelopmental effects. This report compares effects of inhaled gasoline vapor lacking ethanol (E0) at concentrations of 0, 3000, 6000, or 9000 ppm with previously-reported effects of inhaled ethanol (El00) at concentrations of 0, 5000, 10000 or 21000 ppm. Maximum concentrations were limited by the lower explosive limits of the vapors. As observed with El00, E0 vapors caused no overt maternal toxicity, changes in litter size or weight, or weight gain of the pups. In contrast to El 00, E0 did not alter locomotor activity of adults. Both E0 and El 00 produced a few minor, unsystematic changes in the functional observational battery. In water maze tests, El 00 altered search strategies (not dose-related) and impaired memory in females (no-platform probe trials, all doses); in contrast, E0 was essentially ineffective. No treatment affected working memory, as assessed in operant delayed-matching-to-position tests. In an operant reaction-time test, 21000 ppm El 00 and 9000 ppm E0 increased hold failures, a measure of impulsivity, and increased decision times at the lower doses. Responses to a conditioned audiovisual cue were reduced in females at all doses of ElOO, but were not affected by E0; neither agent affected conditioning to context. Telemetered mean blood pressure (BP) was increased in male offspring by 9000 ppm E0 at PND 90 and 180; tail cuff tests corroborated these results at PND 180 only. ElOO increased BP (tail cuff) in males at all doses on PND9O only. This abstract does not reflect EPA policy.