Grantee Research Project Results

The Mechanisms of Endocrine Disruptors in Laboratory Mice

EPA Grant Number: R834509C003
Subproject: this is subproject number 003 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R834509
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Water Environment and Reuse Foundation's National Center for Resource Recovery and Nutrient Management
Center Director: Olabode, Lola
Title: The Mechanisms of Endocrine Disruptors in Laboratory Mice
Investigators: Perera, Frederica P.
Current Investigators: Champagne, Frances , Miller, Rachel L.
Institution: Columbia University in the City of New York
EPA Project Officer: Callan, Richard
Project Period: September 24, 2009 through September 23, 2014 (Extended to September 23, 2015)
RFA: Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers (with NIEHS) (2009) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health , Human Health

Objective:

The objective of this proposal is to determine the mechanism by which prenatal exposure to environmentally relevant levels of the endocrine disrupting chemicals bisphenol A (BPA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exert long-term effects on neurobiology, metabolism, immune function and behavior. We propose to examine prenatal exposure to BPA (oral) and PAH (inhaled) in Balb/c mice using a transgenerational breeding design in which the effects can be examined in Fl offspring and F2 grand-offspring. This proposal intends to determine the distinct effects of prenatal BPA and PAH exposure on DNA methylation and gene expression in several tissues (hippocampus, hypothalamus, brain cortex, adipocytes and blood) and the association of these molecular changes with neurobiological and physiological outcomes. Exposure will occur throughout gestation and postnatal mother-infant interactions will be assessed as a potential modulating influence on offspring development. Assessment of male and female Fl and F2 offspring will include weight monitoring, homecage social interactions (PND 30-40), anxiety-like behavior (PND 40), and cognitive functioning (PND 44-60). Adiposity will be quantified following behavioral testing and in the case of BPA exposure, additional exposure groups will be included to examine immune function. Exposure-induced changes in brain cytoarchitecture will be quantified in Fl and F2 offspring at PND 40. The molecular mechanisms driving these effects will be assessed in offspring tissue during fetal development (GD 19) and in adulthood (PND 60). The selection of molecular targets will be based on the results of analysis of tissue collected from the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) cohort with particular focus on genes involved in neurodevelopment and obesity. Methylation analysis will involve pyrosequencing of bisulphite treated DNA samples with mRNA analysis achieved through quantitative RT-PCR.

Expected Results:

Overall, these studies are designed to confirm and validate the biomarkers determined in the CCCEH human studies of BPA and PAH exposure and to determine the hypothesized link between epigenetic changes in blood with those determined in brain and adipose tissue to determine the possible mechanistic pathways through which long-term effects of exposure are mediated.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 21 publications for this subproject | View all 104 publications for this center

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 7 journal articles for this subproject | View all 60 journal articles for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

Ambient air, human health, toxic, public policy, community-based, ethnic groups, susceptibility, epidemiology, Northeast,, Health, RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Environmental Policy, Biology, Children's Health, Biochemistry, Chemicals, Risk Assessment, childhood obesity, growth & development, children's vulnerablity, developmental neurotoxicity, endocrine disruptors, air pollution, assessment of exposure, air toxics, children's environmental health

Progress and Final Reports:

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R834509 Water Environment and Reuse Foundation's National Center for Resource Recovery and Nutrient Management

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R834509C001 The Role of Endocrine Disruptors in Childhood Obesity
R834509C002 The Role of Endocrine Disruptors in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
R834509C003 The Mechanisms of Endocrine Disruptors in Laboratory Mice

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.