Volume 43, Issue 1 (9-2019)
Research in Medicine 2019, 43(1): 15-22 |
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, d.amini2008@yahoo.com
Abstract: (3036 Views)
Background: Thimerosal (THIM) is one of the most important and inexpensive preservatives in many
pharmaceutical and health products. The current knowledge on the impact of this substance on fetal
neurodevelopment and incidence of behavioral and tissue defects is very controversial. Here we investigated
neonatal administration of THIM on behaviors and cerebellar tissue, which are important in movement,
balance, and sensory integration and which are more typically altered in Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
ASD.
Methods: The experiments were directed on 40 young adult male and female Wistar rats, in groups of 10,
which were randomly divided into four groups: groups 2 & 1: male and female experimental groups (which
received THIM (300μg Hg/kg), Intramuscular injections (im) on postnatal days (15 ,11 ,9 ,7) and groups 3
4 &: male and female control groups (which received saline in the same pattern). On the fourth week after
birth, rats were examined with open field test and in the 8th post natal week, three-chamber paradigm test
was conducted on the animals. After the end of the behavioral tests, histological studies wer e perfromed.
Results: Adult male and female rats, which were exposed to THIM, demonstrated impairments of locomotors
activity and their social affiliation, social memory, and novelity reduced (p<0.001). During freezing,
grooming, as the stereotyped behavior, increased significantly (p<0.05). The results of histological studies
showed a significant decrease in the number of purkinje cells in the groups treated with THIM (p<0.001).
Conclusion: These data document that probably the early postnatal THIM administration causes lasting
neurobehavioral and histological impairments and these conditions could contribute to neurodevelopmental
disorders.
pharmaceutical and health products. The current knowledge on the impact of this substance on fetal
neurodevelopment and incidence of behavioral and tissue defects is very controversial. Here we investigated
neonatal administration of THIM on behaviors and cerebellar tissue, which are important in movement,
balance, and sensory integration and which are more typically altered in Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
ASD.
Methods: The experiments were directed on 40 young adult male and female Wistar rats, in groups of 10,
which were randomly divided into four groups: groups 2 & 1: male and female experimental groups (which
received THIM (300μg Hg/kg), Intramuscular injections (im) on postnatal days (15 ,11 ,9 ,7) and groups 3
4 &: male and female control groups (which received saline in the same pattern). On the fourth week after
birth, rats were examined with open field test and in the 8th post natal week, three-chamber paradigm test
was conducted on the animals. After the end of the behavioral tests, histological studies wer e perfromed.
Results: Adult male and female rats, which were exposed to THIM, demonstrated impairments of locomotors
activity and their social affiliation, social memory, and novelity reduced (p<0.001). During freezing,
grooming, as the stereotyped behavior, increased significantly (p<0.05). The results of histological studies
showed a significant decrease in the number of purkinje cells in the groups treated with THIM (p<0.001).
Conclusion: These data document that probably the early postnatal THIM administration causes lasting
neurobehavioral and histological impairments and these conditions could contribute to neurodevelopmental
disorders.
Type of Study: Original |
Received: 2018/10/15 | Accepted: 2018/11/3 | Published: 2019/04/20
Received: 2018/10/15 | Accepted: 2018/11/3 | Published: 2019/04/20
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