Developmental neurotoxicity in the progeny after maternal gavage with chlorpyrifos

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2018-03, Vol.113, p.66-72
• Main Authors: Laporte, Bérengère, Gay-Quéheillard, Jérôme, Bach, Véronique, Villégier, Anne-Sophie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Chlorpyrifos - toxicity; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fear; Female; Ingestion; Insecticides - toxicity; Intellectual Disability - chemically induced; Life Sciences; Male; Maternal Exposure; Neurodevelopment; Novelty; Pesticide; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reflex, Startle - drug effects; Sensori-motor gating; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2018.01.026

Today, developmental intellectual disorders affect one out of six children in industrialised countries. Intensively used in agriculture, the neurotoxicant pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) is known for its environmental persistence and bioaccumulation. Its role has not yet been established in the aetiology of intellectual impairments. Here we assessed whether maternal ingestion of low CPF dose in rats could impair the cerebral function of their progeny. Rat dams received daily CPF exposures (1 mg/kg, per os) during gestation and lactation. Behaviours relevant to mental retardation were measured in the surface righting, negative geotaxis and grip strength at post-natal days (PND) 3 and 7. Open field tests were performed at PND 16, 18 and 20. Fear conditioning was assessed at PND 34. Startle inhibition was tested at PND 31 and 60. According to the results, the progeny of CPF-treated dams showed slower negative geotaxis as neonates, lower novelty exploration as juveniles and faster startle reflex as adolescents and adults. This data suggests that developmental CPF relevant to human exposure may impair novelty-related activity and sensori-motor functions, thus adaptability to the environment. This data supports the hypothesis that CPF may contribute to behavioural disorders including acquisition retardation and consequences as an adult. •Repeated ingestions of low CPF doses during development may have long term impacts to the brain.•CPF exposure during development may impair novelty-related activity and sensori-motor function.•CPF may contribute to behavioural disorders including acquisition retardation and consequences as an adult.