Effects of arsenic exposure during pregnancy and lactation on the neurobehavior of rat offspring

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of exposure to arsenic in drinking water during pregnancy and lactation on the neurobehavior of SD rat offspring（referred to as offspring）. Methods Totally 6 SPF grade 8-weeks-old SD rats were caged in a female ∶ male ratio of 2 ∶ 1 and randomly divided into 4 groups. After birth,the offspring were further grouped into mother rats. The same dose group selected 10 offspring rats from each litter based on a random principle. The doses of 0.5,2.0,and 8.0 mg/kg were determined based on 1/80,1/20 and 1/5 of the half lethal dose（LD₅₀） of the maternal sodium arsenite（NaAsO₂）. From gestation day 0（GD 0） to postnatal day 21（PND 21）,rats were exposed to arsenic through free drinking water for 42 days,and the control group（0 mg/kg） drank normal water. At the end of the arsenic exposure,the offspring rats were subjected to open field experiments and Morris water maze tests. The brain tissues of the offspring rats were taken for HE and Nissl staining to observe the pathological changes of nerve cells. Results Compared with the control group,the total distance traveled by rats in the arsenic exposure group during pregnancy and lactation was reduced,the average speed was reduced,and the number of activities was increased （all P<0.05）. On the 2nd and 4th days of positioning and navigation training,the incubation period of the high-dose group was prolonged（P<0.05）. On the 5th day of training,the latency period of both the medium-dose group and the high-dose group was prolonged（both P<0.05）. In the space exploration experiment,the effective area movement distance,movement time and escape platform retention time of the medium-dose group and high-dose group were shortened（all P<0.05）. HE staining and Nissl staining results showed that nerve cells in the brain tissue were loosely arranged and the gaps were widened,the number of Nissl bodies was reduced,and some showed vacuolar degeneration. Conclusion Exposure to arsenic in drinking water during pregnancy and lactation leads to a decrease in autonomous exploration activity,as well as weakened autonomous motor and learning and memory abilities in offspring.

Key words: Arsenic, Neurodevelopment, Learning and memory

CLC Number:

R114

TIAN Ruiting, SUN Hongguang, SHEN Chenchen, LI Anran, MA Yan. Effects of arsenic exposure during pregnancy and lactation on the neurobehavior of rat offspring. [J]OCCUPATION AND HEALTH, 2024, 40(10): 1308-1313.

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