Perinatal exposure to low-dose BDE-47, an emergent environmental contaminant, causes hyperactivity in rat offspring.
BACKGROUND
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are a group of environmental contaminants increasing in North America. Few data are available on neurobehavioral effects at low-dose exposure.


OBJECTIVE
Our goal in the present study was to evaluate whether low-dose BDE-47, which is the most abundant PBDE in human samples, affects the neurobehavioral development of rats.


METHODS
Dams were exposed to vehicle or low-dose BDE-47 (0.002, 0.02 and 0.2 mg/kg body weight) each 5 days from gestational day 15 to postnatal day (PND) 20 by intravenous injections. Spontaneous locomotor activity of pups was assessed using the open field test on PND 15, 20 and 25. Sensorimotor coordination was assessed using a RotaRod on PND 30.


RESULTS
Exposure to BDE-47 increased locomotor activity of pups. Developmental landmarks and sensorimotor coordination were not influenced by exposure to BDE-47. BDE-47 content in adipose tissue of exposed rats was similar to that known for human populations.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate neurodevelopmental disruption induced in rats by BDE-47 at levels found in the human population.
Suvorov
Alexander
A
Département d'Obstétrique Gynécologie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Qué., Canada.
Girard
Sylvie
S
Lachapelle
Sophie
S
Abdelouahab
Nadia
N
Sebire
Guillaume
G
Takser
Larissa
L
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; C511295:2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether