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Effect of PCB 47/77 on Maternal Care Behavior and Associated Genes

Dover, Ellen Nicole
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308402609

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) is a persistent organic pollutant known to induce many behavioral and genetic changes. PCB exposure could translate to the next generation by alterations of maternal care affecting the ability of the mother to display high quality care and by manipulation of the genes controlling maternal behavior. In addition, PCB has been shown to be a potent activator of cytochrome p450 1a1 gene expression during the exposure period. In the present study, Sprague-Dawley dams were gestationally exposed through diet to a combination of two congeners of PCB, 47 (2,2’,4,4’-tetrachlorobiphenyl) and 77 (3,3’,4,4’-tetrachlorobiphenyl). Maternal care behaviors on PND 1, 2, 4 and 6, nest building, and molecular analyses of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and cytochrome P450 1a1 (Cyp1a1) genes were evaluated in the present study. No significant effects of PCB were found on nest building behavior with no effect on nest quality. Gestational PCB exposure through the maternal diet caused a significant increase in low crouch and high crouch nursing posture on PND4 and PND6 respectively. Cross fostering revealed a significant alteration in the time off nest (decrease) and low crouch nursing (increase) on PND2. No significant diet-foster interaction was observed. Molecular analysis revealed that PCB exposure upregulated OXTR expression in the hypothalamus of dams, but did not affect Cyp1a1 expression in the hypothalamus 17 days after cessation of PCB administration. These results indicate that PCB exposure through the diet during gestation is capable of altering maternal care behaviors in rats. Cross-fostering is also responsible for alterations of behaviors, although there were no diet-foster interactions observed in the present study.
Lee Meserve, PhD (Advisor)
Howard Cromwell, PhD (Committee Member)
Vipaporn Phuntumart, PhD (Committee Member)
Biology; Genetics; Psychology
oxytocin receptors; maternal care; polychlorinated biphenyl; nest building; gene expression

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dover, E. N. (2011). Effect of PCB 47/77 on Maternal Care Behavior and Associated Genes [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308402609

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dover, Ellen. Effect of PCB 47/77 on Maternal Care Behavior and Associated Genes. 2011. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308402609.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dover, Ellen. "Effect of PCB 47/77 on Maternal Care Behavior and Associated Genes." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308402609

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1308402609
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.