27.07.2013 Views

The Toxicologist - Society of Toxicology

The Toxicologist - Society of Toxicology

The Toxicologist - Society of Toxicology

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

grouped into 9 observation periods (PNDs 25-85, 102-120, 137-155, 193-267,<br />

284-302, 319-337, 375-449, 466-484, 501-519) and accuracy, percent task completed<br />

and response rates were analyzed using separate repeated measures analyses.<br />

We previously reported learning impairments in the high ACR dose group (5<br />

mg/kg/day) on the IRA task through the first 52 test sessions. However, across further<br />

testing, statistically significant impairments in learning became apparent down<br />

to the lowest ACR dose tested (0.1 mg/kg/day). ACR exposed groups completed<br />

less <strong>of</strong> the IRA task than control animals beginning on PND 102 and continuing<br />

through the remainder <strong>of</strong> testing. <strong>The</strong>se results show that daily exposure to ACR<br />

from implantation through adulthood impairs performance on a learning task in<br />

rats as shown here at dose levels approximately 40 times the estimated daily intake<br />

for humans. Performance <strong>of</strong> the IRA learning task has been identified as the most<br />

sensitive endpoint in this study. Supported by Interagency Agreement #224-07-<br />

0007 between FDA and NIEHS/NTP (JG and CR participated as ORISE fellows).<br />

2610 BIOFUELS HEALTH RESEARCH AT THE EPA: INITIAL<br />

STUDIES WITH INHALED ETHANOL IN RATS.<br />

P. J. Bushnell 1 , T. E. Beasley 1 , W. K. Boyes 1 , H. El-Masri 1 , P. A. Evansky 1 , J.<br />

Ford 1 , M. E. Gilbert 1 , D. W. Herr 1 , W. R. LeFew 1 , S. A. Martin 1 , K. L.<br />

McDaniel 1 , E. D. McLanahan 2 , V. C. Moser 1 , D. K. MacMillan 1 and W. M.<br />

Oshiro 1 . 1 NHEERL, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC and 2 NCEA, U.S. EPA,<br />

Research Triangle Park, NC .<br />

<strong>The</strong> Energy Independence and Security Act <strong>of</strong> 2007 mandates increased use <strong>of</strong> alternative<br />

fuels in the US automobile fleet. Currently, the primary alternative to petroleum<br />

fuels is ethanol, and the public health risk associated with adding ethanol<br />

to gasoline at concentrations above 10% is uncertain. Potential neurological and<br />

immunological effects from developmental exposure to evaporative emissions from<br />

ethanol-gasoline blends are particular concerns. We have therefore begun a research<br />

effort involving computational modeling and animal experimentation, with the<br />

goal <strong>of</strong> estimating the toxicity <strong>of</strong> inhaled vapors from gasoline blended with any<br />

concentration <strong>of</strong> ethanol. Modeling approaches include PBPK models parameterized<br />

in pregnant rats for inhaled ethanol (SA Martin abstract) and complex mixtures<br />

(WR LeFew abstract). <strong>The</strong> experimental model system involves exposing<br />

pregnant female rats to vapors <strong>of</strong> ethanol and gasoline-ethanol blends from gestational<br />

day 9 through 20, quantifying target-tissue doses by analysis <strong>of</strong> ethanol concentrations,<br />

and determining internal dose-effect relationships in their <strong>of</strong>fspring,<br />

using behavioral, neurophysiological, and immunological assessments. Initial studies<br />

demonstrated that pregnant female Long-Evans rats (N = 8/group) tolerated a<br />

high concentration <strong>of</strong> inhaled ethanol (20,000 ppm, 6 hr/day for 12 days) without<br />

apparent distress and delivered viable litters. No significant differences in maternal<br />

weight gain, litter size, or <strong>of</strong>fspring brain weight were observed, nor was fear conditioning<br />

affected in the pups at post-natal day (PND) 60. However, compared to<br />

controls, exposed pups grew more slowly, and motor activity was increased in females<br />

at PND 13 and decreased in males at PND 21. <strong>The</strong>se effects remain to be<br />

replicated in a larger study with additional exposure concentrations. Future studies<br />

will compare dose-effect relationships across a range <strong>of</strong> gasoline-ethanol blend ratios.<br />

This abstract does not reflect EPA policy.<br />

2611 ACETAMINOPHEN METABOLITES MAY MODULATE<br />

HIPPOCAMPAL SENSITIVITY TO SEROTONIN AND<br />

SOCIAL INTERACTION BEHAVIOR THROUGH CB1<br />

RECEPTORS.<br />

G. G. Gould 1 , L. Nguyen 2 , T. F. Burke 2 , J. G. Hensler 2 , K. Treat 1 , L. C. Daws 1<br />

and T. Gu 3 . 1 Physiology, University <strong>of</strong> Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio,<br />

San Antonio, TX, 2 Pharmacology, University <strong>of</strong> Texas Health Science Center at San<br />

Antonio, San Antonio, TX and 3 Restorative Dentistry, University <strong>of</strong> Texas Health<br />

Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX.<br />

Concordant with replacement <strong>of</strong> aspirin by acetaminophen (paracetamol) to manage<br />

pediatric fever, the rate <strong>of</strong> autism incidence has increased. A parental survey indicates<br />

that acetaminophen use after vaccines in infants may increase the risk for<br />

autism in some children. Exposure mediated autism susceptibility could stem from<br />

gene polymorphisms in key metabolic enzymes and/or neurotransmitter receptor<br />

proteins. Abnormalities in serotonin (5-HT) systems are common among autistic<br />

individuals. Acetaminophen’s analgesic activity occurs through the action <strong>of</strong> its<br />

metabolites at endocanabinoid CB1 receptors, which are unlikely to bind to 5-<br />

HT 1A receptors. CB1 and 5-HT receptor modulatory interactions have been reported,<br />

but details <strong>of</strong> their nature in the hippocampus and impact on behavior remains<br />

unclear. We have examined this interaction in BTBR and 129Sv mice that<br />

exhibit social behavior impairments similar to those seen in autism. Through<br />

[ 35 S]GTPgS, [ 3 H] 8-OH-DPAT and [ 3 H] CP 55,940 autoradiography, we found<br />

that 129Sv mice have 20% higher 5-HT 1A receptor density and BTBR mice have<br />

40-80% increases in 5-HT 1A and CB1 receptor function (measured by agonist-induced<br />

G-protein coupling) in the hippocampal CA1 (N=4). BTBR mice also exhibited<br />

increased social behavior with acute administration <strong>of</strong> the 5-HT 1A partial<br />

agonist buspirone (2 mg/kg), acetaminophen (100-500 mg/kg) or the cannabinoid<br />

receptor agoninst WIN 55,212 (0.1 mg/kg) in three-chamber sociability tests.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se data support modulation <strong>of</strong> 5-HT systems via CB1 receptors and potential<br />

for 5-HT system disruption by acetaminophen overdose.<br />

2612 PERSISTENT CNS EFFECTS OF POSTNATAL<br />

EXPOSURE TO CONCENTRATED AMBIENT<br />

PARTICLES.<br />

J. L. Allen, J. N. Finkelstein, C. J. Johnston, G. Oberdörster and D. A. Cory-<br />

Slechta. Environmental Medicine & Pediatrics, University <strong>of</strong> Rochester Medical<br />

Center, Rochester, NY.<br />

Increasing evidence suggests that ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) may adversely<br />

influence the brain, particularly early in development, a period <strong>of</strong> brain vulnerability.<br />

If so, air pollutants may represent a largely underappreciated contribution to<br />

CNS diseases and disorders. That hypothesis was tested in male and female<br />

C57BL6 mice exposed to concentrated ultrafine ambient particles (CAPS) at postnatal<br />

days (PN) 4-13, with a subset also re-exposed as adults (AD) at 56-60 days <strong>of</strong><br />

age (PN + AD). Blood corticosterone levels were decreased in PN males 24 hr after<br />

the final CAPS exposure, but increased in both PN and PN+AD females, consistent<br />

with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. In males, PN alone<br />

persistently suppressed overall response rates during acquisition <strong>of</strong> prototypical<br />

fixed interval (FI) operant schedule-controlled behavior; locomotor activity levels<br />

measured 2 wks after final CAPS exposure were comparably reduced in PN and<br />

PN+AD groups. In AD females, FI overall response rates were increased, whereas<br />

locomotor activity levels were reduced in PN+AD, but not PN alone groups, consistent<br />

with enhanced effects. Preliminary assessment <strong>of</strong> learning using novel object<br />

recognition suggests impairment in PN females. Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity,<br />

a marker <strong>of</strong> astrogliosis measured in mice sacrificed at 62 days <strong>of</strong><br />

age, was still increased in midbrain, corpus callosum and hippocampus/dentate<br />

gyrus <strong>of</strong> mice (n=2-3/treatment) after PN only CAPS. Collectively, these findings<br />

indicate that CAPS can produce, differentially by gender, persistent behavioral,<br />

CNS and HPA dysfunction even following PN only exposure. Given that such exposures<br />

are essentially life-long, these results also support the potential for air pollution<br />

to serve as a risk factor for neurodevelopmental and/or neurodegenerative disorders.<br />

Supported by ES001247 and ES019105.<br />

2613 LIFE SPAN ALCOHOL EXPOSURE MONITORED BY<br />

FDG BRAIN PET IMAGING. MORE INFORMATION<br />

FROM FEWER ANIMALS.<br />

D. De Groot 1 , M. Boogaard 1 , R. Nederl<strong>of</strong> 1 , M. Berk 1 , E. Uitvlugt 2 , L. vd<br />

Horst 1 , M. Otto 1 , A. Wolterbeek 1 and E. De Vries 2 . 1 TNO Quality <strong>of</strong> Life, Zeist,<br />

Netherlands and 2 Groningen University Medical Center, Groningen, Netherlands.<br />

Sponsor: R. Woutersen.<br />

Objective. To investigate whether in vivo FDG PET imaging can detect adverse effects<br />

<strong>of</strong> alcohol consumption on brain development and compare the results with<br />

conventional indicators <strong>of</strong> behaviour; all this within the scope <strong>of</strong> animal reduction<br />

and refinement (animal 2Rs) in (regulatory) animal experimentation. Strategy. A<br />

recently developed protocol for an Extended One Generation Reproduction<br />

Toxicity Study [OECD EOGRTS] designed to reduce animal experimentation in<br />

reproduction toxicity testing without giving in on safety testing for man was applied.<br />

Rats were exposed daily via the drinking water (0, 1.5, 4.0, 6.5, 9.0, 11.5,<br />

14%) from 2 weeks pre-mating to postnatal day (PND) 70 <strong>of</strong> F1-<strong>of</strong>fspring. F1 <strong>of</strong>fspring<br />

<strong>of</strong> all groups (n=10) was tested for motor, neuromuscular and cognitive<br />

functioning. Littermates <strong>of</strong> ethanol dose groups 0, 4 and 9% (n=3-5) were subjected<br />

to [18F]FDG microPET imaging on PND 18, 21, 35, 62 to study brain glucose<br />

metabolism. Results/discussion. Behavioral testing demonstrated impairment<br />

<strong>of</strong> neuromuscular functioning in higher dose groups (9, 11.5 and 14%), but no loss<br />

<strong>of</strong> cognition. However, FDG brain uptake showed a dose-dependent (4 and 9%)<br />

global decrease over time indicative <strong>of</strong> mental impairment. In addition, 1) decreased<br />

relative uptake was observed in striatum (PND 18) and 2) frontal cortex<br />

(PND62), and 3) increased uptake in cerebellum (PN 62), pointing at reduced<br />

dopamine function and basal ganglia volume (1), loss <strong>of</strong> reason and inhibition (2)<br />

SOT 2011 ANNUAL MEETING 559

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!