title: Effects of prenatal styrene exposure on postnatal development and brain serotonin and catecholamine levels in rats.
abstract: Maternal reproductive effects in Wistar rats exposed to 0, 50, or 300 ppm styrene for 6 h/day during gestational days 6 to 20 were evaluated. Their offspring were observed postnatally for neurochemical changes, growth, and physical landmarks of development. Mothers exposed to styrene were compared with pair-fed and ad-lib-fed controls in order to adjust nutrient conditions. Prolongation of the gestational period, food intake, and the number of neonatal deaths or stillbirths in 300-ppm-exposed dams showed evidence of styrene-related effects. Other reproductive parameters, such as litter size, birth weight, and sex ratio, were found to exhibit no effects within the variation range studied. A neurochemical effect was observed in that the 5-HT and HVA concentrations in cerebrum were significantly decreased. Incisor eruption (mandible), eye opening, and the air-righting reflex were delayed in rat pups born to dams receiving 300 ppm styrene exposure compared with the pair-fed and ad lib control groups. Pups born to dams exposed to 50 ppm styrene also had a significantly delayed air-righting reflex compared with ad lib controls. These results suggest that the offspring were susceptible to the effects of styrene on a few developmental landmarks even when nutritional effects were controlled.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katakura
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyake
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001724:Birth Weight; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008098:Litter Size; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis*; D020058:Styrene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D012701:Serotonin; D020058:Styrene