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DIBUTYLTIN EXPOSURE ALTERS CIRCULATING BLOOD GROWTH FACTOR LEVELS.
Citation:
LyonsDarden, T, S. Jenkins, R Luebke, K. Besas, AND S Barone. DIBUTYLTIN EXPOSURE ALTERS CIRCULATING BLOOD GROWTH FACTOR LEVELS. Presented at Society of Toxicology, Baltimore, MD, 3/21-25/2004.
Description:
Organotin compounds are commonly used as heat stabilizers in the manufacture of PVC plastics, in pesticides, and as preservatives for a wide variety of materials. Dibutyltin (DBT) is of particular interest due to its immunotoxic effects. In this study, we used ELISA assays to determine the effects of developmental dibutyltin dichloride exposure in Wistar rats on blood concentrations of several proteins including Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF ), and Neuropeptide Y (NPY). These proteins are either growth factors or cytokines involved in development and inflammation, and may be useful biomarkers of effect. DBT effects were studied in pups of exposed dams (from GD6-20; gestational group) and in pups exposed directly (from PND3-21). DBT doses were given by gavage and included 0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg three time per week. All pups were sacrificed at either PND21 or PND38. At PND21, gestationally exposed pups had an 11% decrease in body weight at the high-dose but no significant changes in body or brain weight at PND38. The directly dosed pups exhibited an 8% decrease in body weight at PND21 for both treatment groups, while at PND38 there was a 14% decrease in body weight and significant decreases in brain weight (7% in the low- dose and 13% in the high-dose groups). Blood from gestationally exposed high-dose pups showed increased protein concentrations of BDNF (at PND21) and decreased concentrations of NGF (at PND38). Blood from the directly dosed high-dose pups showed increased concentrations of NGF, NT-3, and NT-4 only at PND38. This study indicates DBT affects circulating levels of growth factors in blood following developmental exposure to DBT. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.