ToxSci Advance Access originally published online on June 17, 2009
Toxicological Sciences 2009 110(2):401-410; doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfp114
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Effects of Decabrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE 209) Exposure at Different Developmental Periods on Synaptic Plasticity in the Dentate Gyrus of Adult Rats In Vivo
School of Life science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027 P.R. China
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China. Fax: +86-551-3601443. E-mail: ruandy{at}ustc.edu.cn.
Received March 27, 2009; accepted May 21, 2009
| Abstract |
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Polybromininated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used as flame-retardant additives. Previous studies have demonstrated that PBDEs exposure can lead to neurotoxicity. However, little is known about the effects of PBDE 209 on synaptic plasticity. This study investigated the effect of decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE 209), a major PBDEs product, on synaptic plasticity in the dentate gyrus of rats at different developmental periods. We examined the input/output functions, paired-pulse reactions, and the long-term potentiation of the field excitatory postsynaptic potential slope and the population spike amplitude in vivo. Rats were exposed to PBDE 209 during five different developmental periods: pregnancy, lactation via mother's milk, lactation via intragastric administration, after weaning, and prenatal to life. We found that exposed to PBDE 209 during different developmental periods could impair the synaptic plasticity of adult rats in different degrees. The results also showed that PBDE 209 might cause more serious effects on the postsynaptic cell excitability in synaptic plasticity, and the lactation period was the most sensitive time of development towards PBDE 209.
Key Words: polybromininated diphenyl ethers; dentate gyrus; electrophysiology; long-term potentiation; synaptic plasticity; hippocampus.