INFLUENCE OF A MIXTURE OF TWO POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCB 47/77) ON PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES (IL-6, TNF-á) AND ASSOCIATIVE BEHAVIOR IN YOUNG SPRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS
Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: AdvisorPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), are a group of 209 structurally related chemical compounds (congeners), that were once used in industrial applications, particularly as electrical insulating fluids and as heat exchange fluids, until concern regarding possible adverse effects on the environment and human health resulted in the cessation of production and an ultimate ban on manufacture in most countries.Upon the discovery of PCB in the environment, accounts of human exposure were investigated.PCB have been reported to cause a variety of health effects including immunologic, teratogenic, reproductive, carcinogenic, and neurologic.They are not only a potential health threat to adults, but also to developing fetuses and infants because they cross the human placenta and are found in human milk.In the present study, a simple mixture of PCB congeners, noncoplanar (PCB 47) and coplanar (PCB 77), were administered to young Sprague-Dawley rats by route of maternal dietary consumption (either 12.5 ppm or 25.0 ppm, w/w).Alterations in pup body, organ, and endocrine gland weight were determined on PND 15.Performance in conditioned odor preference (COP) tests and conditioned approach tests (CAT) was determined on PND 14 to examine the effects of PCB on the associative behavior of young rats.On PND 15, serum concentrations of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Concentration of both IL-6 and TNF-α in serum were found to be positively correlated to administered PCB 47/77 concentration.Significant behavioral effects involving associative behavior and odor preference not observed in the present study.However, body weights at PND iii 15 were significantly depressed in animals exposed to PCB 47/77, and may be a physical symptom of sickness behavior that may have further been enhanced by the increased proinflammatory cytokine levels observed in the present study.constant guidance and unending patience; without his support this thesis would not be complete, Dr.Howard Casey Cromwell for his helpful knowledge and supervision in executing the associative behavioral tests, and Dr. Stan Lee Smith for accepting my last minute request to join my committee.I would like to show my gratitude to all staff members of the Bowling Green State University Animal Facilities.Without the quality assistance of Denise Hook, Nikki Badman, and Mike McLaughlan, this project would not have been possible.
Author: Christina Marie Asbrock
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2238202703