Epidemiologic studies suggested a possible link between prenatal exposure to organophosphate insecticides (OP) and long-term mental delay and some behavioral troubles. Experimental studies in rats and mice have confirmed that a relatively short exposure to low doses of OP such as Chlorpyrifos (CPF) during specific perinatal periods decreased anxiety-like behaviors.  

In the present study, we report that chronic perinatal exposure (GD15-PND14) to low doses of CPF lead to an increase (and not a decrease) in anxiety-like behaviors of female mouse offspring. Pregnant or lactating female mice were exposed to CPF (0.2; 1; or 5 mg/kg.day) by oral treatment during 18 consecutive days.  

Following a recovery period of several weeks, the anxiety of adult female offspring was determined using neurobehavioral tests (elevated plus-maze and light/dark box tests).  

Our results showed that CPF-exposed female offspring were more anxious than controls. In addition, the magnitude of anxiety profile alterations depended on the level of exposure to CPF during gestation and lactation with a maximal effect observed at the 1 mg/kg.day dose.  

Our results confirm that OP exposure during the perinatal period can induce long-term alterations in mouse anxiety-like behaviors and suggest that the routes of administration and the duration of OP exposure during brain development may be factors to consider when studying the development of anxiety. 

Reference:   Braquenier JB, Quertemont E, Tirelli E, Plumier JC., Anxiety in adult female mice following perinatal exposure to Chlorpyrifos, Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2009 Aug 27.  

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 01st, 2009 and is filed under Chemical Exposure, Clinical Diagnostics, Diagnosis Chemical Injury, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurodevelopment, Pesticides, Insecticides. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or Trackback from your own site.