Sex-Dependent Effects of Developmental Lead Exposure in Wistar Rats: Evidence from Behavioral and Molecular Correlates

Autor: Anna Maria Tartaglione, Melania Maria Serafini, Andrea Raggi, Francesca Iacoponi, Elisa Zianni, Alessandro Scalfari, Luisa Minghetti, Laura Ricceri, Francesco Cubadda, Gemma Calamandrei, Barbara Viviani
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 21, Iss 8, p 2664 (2020)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1422-0067
1661-6596
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082664
Popis: Lead (Pb) exposure in early life affects brain development resulting in cognitive and behavioral deficits. Epidemiologic and experimental evidence of sex as an effect modifier of developmental Pb exposure is emerging. In the present study, we investigated Pb effects on behavior and mechanisms of neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and potential sex differences. To this aim, dams were exposed, from one month pre-mating to offspring weaning, to Pb via drinking water at 5 mg/kg body weight per day. In the offspring of both sexes, the longitudinal assessment of motor, emotional, and cognitive end points was performed. We also evaluated the expression and synaptic distribution of N-methyl-D-Aspartate receptor (NMDA) and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunits at post-natal day (pnd) 23 and 70 in the hippocampus. Neonatal motor patterns and explorative behavior in offspring were affected in both sexes. Pb effects in emotional response and memory retention were observed in adult females only, preceded by increased levels of GluN2A and GluA1 subunits at the post-synapse at pnd 23. These data suggest that Pb exposure during development affects glutamatergic receptors distribution at the post-synaptic spine in females. These effects may contribute to alterations in selected behavioral domains.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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