Significant metabolic alterations in mouse dams exposed to an environmental mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during gestation and lactation: Insights into PCB and metabolite profiles.
Xueshu Li, Youjun P Suh, Rebecca J Wilson, Pamela J Lein, Julia Y Cui, Hans-Joachim Lehmler
Author Information
Xueshu Li: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Youjun P Suh: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
Rebecca J Wilson: Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Pamela J Lein: Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Julia Y Cui: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
Hans-Joachim Lehmler: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Electronic address: hans-joachim-lehmler@uiowa.edu.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and their metabolites are linked to developmental neurotoxicity, but their levels in the gestational and lactational environment remain unexplored. This study investigated the effects of dietary exposure to the Fox River Mixture (FRM) on serum levels of PCBs and their metabolites in female C57BL/6 J mice. Mice were exposed to 0.1, 1.0, or 6.0 mg/kg body weight/day of FRM beginning two weeks before mating and throughout gestation and lactation. Serum samples collected from the dams at weaning were analyzed using gas chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry and nontarget liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Results showed complex and dose-dependent differences in PCB and metabolite profiles. Untargeted metabolomics revealed alterations in metabolites involved in glucuronidation. Network analysis suggested disturbances in heme and amino acid metabolism associated with higher chlorinated PCBs. These findings suggested that PCBs and metabolites present in the gestational and lactation environment of mice may contribute to developmental neurotoxicity in rodents.
