Effects of tributyltin on the emotional behavior of C57BL/6 mice and the development of atopic dermatitis-like lesions in DS-Nh mice.
BACKGROUND
Tributyltin (TBT) compounds have been widely used as antifouling biocides on ships and are known to be endocrine disrupters. However, little is known about the influence of TBT on emotion and atopic dermatitis.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effects of TBT on the emotional behavior of C57BL/6 mice and on development of AD-like skin lesions in DS-Nh mice, which develop dermatitis spontaneously under conventional conditions.


METHODS
Five-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed 0, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 or 500 ppm TBT diet for 2 weeks. At the end of the exposure period, an open-field test was performed. Six-week-old DS-Nh mice were fed 200 ppm TBT for 14 weeks. Skin eruption scores were checked every week. Skin biopsy was performed from ears.


RESULTS
No significant difference was found in mortality or body weight among the groups receiving 0-200 ppm TBT diet during the course of the study. In the open-field test, mice fed 200 ppm TBT showed lower activity and higher frequency of defecation than did controls. These figures represent a high level of anxiety and fear and were significant in male mice compared with control mice. The skin eruption score was significantly higher in the DS-Nh mice fed TBT than in control mice. In the DS-Nh mice fed TBT, acanthosis of epidermis and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the dermis were more severe than those in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
TBT diet induced alterations in emotional behavior in C57BL/6 mice, and also induced early onset and deterioration of AD-like lesions in DS-Nh mice.
Ohtaki
Kaoru
K
Department of Environmental Immuno-Dermatology, Yokohama City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Aihara
Michiko
M
Takahashi
Hinako
H
Fujita
Hiroyuki
H
Takahashi
Kazuo
K
Funabashi
Toshiya
T
Hirasawa
Tsutomu
T
Ikezawa
Zenro
Z
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; C011559:tributyltin