The effects of early developmental exposure to 3,3'4,4'5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126) on developing mink (Neovison vison) and domestic chick (Gallus domesticus) brains

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Date
2014
Authors
Burger, Danielle K.
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Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscience
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmental toxicants that bioaccumulate in the body. PCB 126 is the most toxic PCB congener due to its ability to mimic the effects of dioxins. Here, I examined the effects of early developmental PCB 126 exposure in two animal models. In the first experiment, American mink kits were exposed prenatally and postnatally to PCB 126. The effects of early exposure were examined in the hippocampus, neocortex and corpus callosum. PCB 126 exposure had no effect on the hippocampus, but decreased volume of both the neocortex and corpus callosum. In the second experiment, chick eggs were injected with PCB 126 and the effects of embryonic exposure in the brain were examined in the telencephalon and hippocampus. Overall, I found no effects of PCB 126 on the chick brain. Taken together, my two experiments suggest PCB 126 has effects on the brain, but species sensitivity may differ.
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Keywords
Neuroscience , corpus callosum , early developmental exposure , environmental toxins , hippocampus , neocortex , telencephalon
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