Chu Fang, Yang Wenjing, Li Yang, Lu Chunqing, Jiao Zhe, Bu Keming, Liu Zhipeng, Sun Hongna, Sun Dianjun
Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health & Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
Toxics. 2023 Nov 30;11(12):970. doi: 10.3390/toxics11120970.
This study investigated the effects of subchronic arsenic exposure on behavior, neurological function, and hippocampal damage in rats. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided into four groups and exposed to different concentrations of arsenic in their drinking water for 12 weeks, while weekly water intake and body weight were recorded. Various neurobehavioral tests were conducted, evaluating overall activity levels, exploratory behavior, short-term memory, spatial learning and memory, anxiety-like behavior, and depressive-like states. Arsenic levels in urine, serum, and brain tissue were measured, and histopathological analysis assessed hippocampal damage using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The results demonstrated that arsenic exposure did not significantly affect overall activity or exploratory behavior. However, it impaired short-term memory and spatial learning and memory functions. Arsenic-exposed rats exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior and a depressive-like state. Arsenic levels increased dose-dependently in urine, serum, and brain tissue. The histopathological examinations revealed significant hippocampal damage, including neuronal shrinkage, cell proliferation, irregular structure, disordered arrangement, and vacuolation. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding the impact of arsenic exposure on behavior and brain health, highlighting its potential neurological consequences.
本研究调查了亚慢性砷暴露对大鼠行为、神经功能和海马损伤的影响。将32只雄性Wistar大鼠分为四组，在其饮用水中暴露于不同浓度的砷12周，同时记录每周的饮水量和体重。进行了各种神经行为测试，评估总体活动水平、探索行为、短期记忆、空间学习和记忆、焦虑样行为以及抑郁样状态。测量了尿液、血清和脑组织中的砷水平，并使用苏木精和伊红染色进行组织病理学分析以评估海马损伤。结果表明，砷暴露并未显著影响总体活动或探索行为。然而，它损害了短期记忆以及空间学习和记忆功能。砷暴露的大鼠表现出焦虑样行为增加和抑郁样状态。尿液、血清和脑组织中的砷水平呈剂量依赖性增加。组织病理学检查显示海马有明显损伤，包括神经元萎缩、细胞增殖、结构不规则、排列紊乱和空泡化。这些发现强调了了解砷暴露对行为和脑健康影响的重要性，突出了其潜在的神经学后果。
