Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ane Bungum Kofoed, Laura Deen, Karin Sorig Hougaard, Kajsa Ugelvig Petersen, Harald William Meyer, Ellen Botker Pedersen, Niels Erik Ebbehoj, Berit Lilienthal Heitmann, Jens Peter Bonde, Sandra Sogaard Tottenborg
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the impact of airborne PCB exposure during pregnancy on adverse birth outcomes. Results showed that children born to women exposed to LC-PCBs had a higher risk of cryptorchidism, while there was no significant difference in birth weight.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Toxicology
Neelakanteswar Aluru, Sibel Karchner
Summary: This study investigated the acute effects of environmental chemical exposure on m6A methylation patterns, revealing that dioxin-like PCBs could potentially alter developmental gene expression patterns by affecting m6A levels. Further studies are needed to understand the functional consequences of exposure-associated alterations in m6A levels.
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaoyu Liu, Michelle R. Mullin, Peter Egeghy, Katherine A. Woodward, Kathleen C. Compton, Brian Nickel, Marcus Aguilar, Edgar Folk
Summary: In this research, 39 consumer products were analyzed for PCB congeners, and iPCBs were detected in seven products, with PCB-11 being the most common congener. The study also found that PCB-11 was emitted to air from one product and migrated to house dust.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Sonia Alarcon, Javier Esteban, Robert Roos, Paivi Heikkinen, Ismael Sanchez-Perez, Annika Adamsson, Jorma Toppari, Antti Koskela, Mikko A. J. Finnila, Juha Tuukkanen, Maria Herlin, Gerd Hamscher, Heather A. Leslie, Merja Korkalainen, Krister Halldin, Dieter Schrenk, Helen Hakansson, Matti Viluksela
Summary: The study investigated the developmental toxicity of PCB 180 in offspring following in utero and lactational exposure, revealing that male offspring were more sensitive to increased liver weight, PROD induction, and decreased thyroxine concentrations, while female offspring were more sensitive to other effects. The MoE assessment indicated that the 95th percentile of current maternal PCB 180 concentrations did not exceed the estimated tolerable human lipid-based PCB 180 concentration.
REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Amanda Honaker, Angela Kyntchev, Emma Foster, Katelyn Clough, Greg Hawk, Emmanuella Asiedu, Kevin Berling, Emma DeBurger, Mackenzie Feltner, Victoria Ferguson, Philip Tyler Forrest, Kayla Jenkins, Lisa Massie, Jayasree Mullaguru, Mame Diarra Niang, Connor Perry, Yvonne Sene, Aria Towell, Christine Perdan Curran
Summary: Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a known carcinogen and exposure to it during pregnancy and early life can have adverse effects on the brain and behavior. The study investigates the susceptibility to gestational and lactational exposure to BaP based on genotype and sex differences in a mouse model. The findings highlight the importance of considering both males and females in neurobehavioral studies and suggest future directions in identifying populations at highest risk of early life BaP exposure.
NEUROTOXICOLOGY AND TERATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Samantha L. Regan, Chiho Sugimoto, Adam L. Fritz, Charles V. Vorhees, Michael T. Williams
Summary: The study shows that PRM and DLM have different effects on ASR and TSR, with different outcomes depending on the timing and type of prepulse used.
NEUROTOXICITY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Jenna L. N. Sprowles, Charles V. Vorhees, Michael T. Williams
Summary: This study compared the effects of barren cage rearing and maternal separation on preweaning rat behavior. Barren cage rearing reduced the time-in-open in the EZM test, while isolation rearing decreased open-field activity in male rats and increased it in female rats. The combined stressors had long-term effects with some evidence that effects were seen when both stressors were present, but no synergistic effects were observed.
NEUROTOXICOLOGY AND TERATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Samantha L. Regan, Michael T. Williams, Charles V. Vorhees
Summary: LPHN3, a G-protein-coupled receptor in the adhesion subfamily, regulates synaptic function in brain regions associated with locomotor activity, attention, and memory, with variants linked to increased risk of ADHD. Research suggests that LPHN3 plays a significant role in neuroplasticity.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Oncology
C. V. Vorhees, R. E. Vatner, M. T. Williams
Summary: Ionising radiation can lead to secondary tumors and cognitive deficits, especially in children. Proton therapy and ultra-high dose rate radiation (FLASH effect) show promising results in tumor control with less damage to surrounding tissues, but more comprehensive evaluation of outcomes is needed, especially in the context of proton exposure.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Helen J. K. Sable, Deranda B. Lester, Joshua L. Potter, Hunter G. Nolen, Destinee M. Cruthird, Lauren M. Estes, Alyssa D. Johnson, Samantha L. Regan, Michael T. Williams, Charles V. Vorhees
Summary: The study explored the impact of Lphn3 deletion on behavioral control associated with ADHD and externalizing behaviors in rats. Results showed deficits in impulsive action and working memory in Lphn3(-/-) rats compared to control rats, suggesting a role for Lphn3 in modulating inhibitory control and working memory. Further research on the role of Lphn3 in externalizing disorders is warranted.
GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Emily M. Pitzer, Michael T. Williams, Charles V. Vorhees
Summary: Deltamethrin (DLM), a Type II pyrethroid pesticide, is widely used in various sectors. Epidemiological studies show that increased pyrethroid exposure during development is linked to neurobehavioral disorders, but further research is needed to understand its long-term effects.
NEUROTOXICOLOGY AND TERATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Charles V. Vorhees, Michael T. Williams
Summary: Developmental neurotoxicity studies could benefit from revisions in study design, data analysis, and behavioral test methods to enhance reproducibility. Some behavioral tests have limitations in detecting the lowest observable adverse effect level (LOAEL), which affects the overall effectiveness of the studies.
NEUROTOXICOLOGY AND TERATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Tori L. Schaefer, Amy A. Ashworth, Durgesh Tiwari, Madison P. Tomasek, Emma V. Parkins, Angela R. White, Andrew Snider, Matthew H. Davenport, Lindsay M. Grainger, Robert A. Becker, Chandler K. Robinson, Rishav Mukherjee, Michael T. Williams, Jay R. Gibson, Kimberly M. Huber, Christina Gross, Craig A. Erickson
Summary: Fragile X syndrome is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability, resulting from the loss of Fragile X Protein. While modulation of the GABAergic system has been suggested as a treatment strategy, clinical trials using broad spectrum GABA receptor-specific agonists have not shown broad improvements in FXS phenotypes. The experimental drug BAER-101, a selective GABA(A) alpha 2/alpha 3 agonist, has shown promising results in reducing hyperexcitability in cortical circuits and improving certain phenotypes in Fmr1 KO mice.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Samantha L. Regan, Emily M. Pitzer, Jillian R. Hufgard, Chiho Sugimoto, Michael T. Williams, Charles V. Vorhees
Summary: Research suggests that LPHN3 has a selective impact on egocentric and allocentric learning and memory, while having no effects on conditioned freezing or recognition memory.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2021)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Samantha L. Regan, Michael T. Williams, Charles V. Vorhees
Summary: This study reviews the impact of genetic and environmental factors on the development of ADHD. Although there is no perfect rodent model, several models show promise. The genetic models mainly include rats and mice, while environmental factors include alcohol, nicotine, and pollutants. Future research should combine multiple gene knockouts and environmental factors to better understand the pathogenesis of ADHD.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Sandra P. Zoubovsky, Michael T. Williams, Sarah Hoseus, Shivani Tumukuntala, Amy Riesenberg, Jay Schulkin, Charles V. Vorhees, Kenneth Campbell, Hee-Woong Lim, Louis J. Muglia
Summary: Prenatal stress in mice leads to anxiety-like behavior and increased activity of the HPA axis. Evidence of fetal amygdala programming precedes these abnormalities. In adult offspring, there are sex-specific amygdalar transcriptional changes and dysfunction in neurotransmitter systems. These abnormalities are primarily driven by in-utero stress exposure, but postnatal maternal care changes can reverse anxiety-related behaviors and partially rescue gene alterations associated with neurotransmission.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Samantha L. Regan, Chiho Sugimoto, Hannah E. Dawson, Michael T. Williams, Charles V. Vorhees
Summary: In this study, the researchers generated a knockout rat model for the Lphn3 gene and found that Lphn3 plays a critical role in brain function and behavior. The gene dosage effect observed in heterozygous rats suggests that Lphn3 exhibits dominant expression in regions where it is most abundantly expressed, influencing related behaviors.
GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Brian A. Upton, Gowri Nayak, Ivy Schweinzger, Shane P. D'Souza, Charles V. Vorhees, Michael T. Williams, Brian R. Earl, Richard A. Lang
Summary: Opn3 is the first nonvisual opsin gene discovered in mammals and it is expressed in both the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. The behavioral consequences of Opn3 deficiency were investigated and it was found that Opn3-deficient mice perform similarly to wild-type mice in most behavioral tests, but have an attenuated acoustic startle reflex.