title: Behavioral effects of developmental methylmercury drinking water exposure in rodents.
abstract: Early methylmercury (MeHg) exposure can have long-lasting consequences likely arising from impaired developmental processes, the outcome of which has been exposed in several longitudinal studies of affected populations. Given the large number of newborns at an increased risk of learning disabilities associated with in utero MeHg exposure, it is important to study neurobehavioral alterations using ecologically valid and physiologically relevant models. This review highlights the benefits of using the MeHg drinking water exposure paradigm and outlines behavioral outcomes arising from this procedure in rodents. Combination treatments that exacerbate or ameliorate MeHg-induced effects, and possible molecular mechanisms underlying behavioral impairment are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. Electronic address: emily.bisen-hersh@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Emily B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Bisen-Hersh
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Toxicological and Bromatological Analyses, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joao B T
authors.initials: JBT
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Pharmacology, The Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, and The Center for Molecular Toxicology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aschner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012377:Rodentia
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds
keywords: Behavior; Developmental neurotoxicity; Learning; Mercury; Rodents