Effects of maternal exposure to trichloroethylene on glucose uptake and nucleic acid and protein levels in the brains of developing rat pups

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5816844

Gerbec, E A.N.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a widespread contaminant of drinking water sources. This study examined several biochemical aspects of the hippocampus and cerebellum of rat pups that were exposed prenatally (gestational) and postnatally (lactational) to TCE via their dams' drinking water. The effects of TCE on glucose uptake, and on nucleic and protein levels in brain tissue were examined in these pups. Glucose uptake in the cerebellum, hippocampus and whole brain of the pups during the first 21 days of life was measured using the tritium-labeled 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) dissection/scintillation counting technique. The author determined that 312 mg TCE/I in drinking water (total dam exposure was 684 mg) significantly depressed 2-DG uptake in the whole brains and cerebella of 7- to 21-day old pups. This concentration also reduced 2-DG uptake in the hippocampus of exposed pups at 7, 11, and 16 days, but the uptake returned to control levels by 21 days. No overt toxicity, such as lower body or brain weight, was observed at this exposure level. This decrease in 2-DG uptake is a reflection of a decreased relative glucose uptake in the TCE exposed animals. Total DNA and RNA were extracted and measured using a modification of the Schmidt-Thannhauser procedure and Schneider technique, respectively. Proteins were determined based on the method of Bradford (1976).

• Research Organization: Miami Univ., Coral Gables, FL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5816844
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201 -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALDEHYDES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CARBOHYDRATES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
DNA
GLUCOSE
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HEXOSES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MONOSACCHARIDES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
RATS
RNA
RODENTS
SACCHARIDES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES