The effects of PBDE-209 exposure during pregnancy on placental ET-1 and eNOS expression and the birth weight of offspring.

Abstract

Decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE-209) is a persistent organic pollutant. Gestational exposure to PBDE-209 can accumulate in pregnant women and fetuses via the placenta and umbilical cord, affecting perinatal outcome. In this study, pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups and intragastrically administered peanut oil (vehicle) 1, 5 and 10mg/kg by body weight (b.w.) of PBDE-209, or nothing (control) from day 0 (G0) to day 21 (G21) gestation, respectively. Placental samples were collected on G21 by cesarean section. The mRNA and protein expressions of ET-1, eNOS and iNOS in the placenta were examined using qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Total nitric oxide (NO) in the placenta was measured using a specific ELISA kit. Compared with the control and vehicle groups, the mRNA expression of ET-1 and iNOS in the placenta was gradually and significantly increased after exposure to increasing concentrations of PBDE-209 (P<0.05), while the mRNA level of eNOS in the placenta was gradually and significantly reduced after exposure to increasing concentrations of PBDE-209 (P<0.05). The expression trends of ET-1, eNOS and iNOS proteins were consistent with those of mRNA expression. Interestingly, the production of total NO was significantly increased after exposure to 5 and 10mg/kg b.w. PBDE-209 (P<0.05). Finally, the birth weight of the offspring rats was significantly reduced after maternal exposure to 5 and 10 mg/kg b.w. PBDE-209 compared with the control and vehicle groups (P<0.05). These results suggest that PBDE-209 exposure during pregnancy upregulates ET-1 and iNOS expression, but decreases eNOS expression in the placenta, as well as reduces the birth weight of offspring.

• Authors: Peili Du, Zhihua Li, Lili Du, Huili Zhang, Yanmei Zhou, Wen Sun, Xue Xiao, Yutian He, Bin Sun, Yanhong Yu, Dunjin Chen
• Journal: International journal of developmental neuroscience : the official journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience (Int J Dev Neurosci) Vol. 43 Pg. 86-91 (Jun 2015) ISSN: 1873-474X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25824818 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Endothelin-1
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
• RNA, Messenger
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
• decabromobiphenyl ether

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Endothelin-1 (genetics, metabolism)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental (drug effects)
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers (toxicity)
• Male
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III (genetics, metabolism)
• Placenta (drug effects, metabolism)
• Pregnancy
• Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects (chemically induced, physiopathology)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley