Preclinical modeling of exposure to a global marine bio-contaminant: Effects of in utero Domoic acid exposure on neonatal behavior and infant memory

Publication date: Available online 25 January 2019Source: Neurotoxicology and TeratologyAuthor(s): Kimberly S. Grant, Brenda Crouthamel, Caroline Kenney, Noelle McKain, Rebekah Petroff, Sara Shum, Jing Jing, Nina Isoherranen, Thomas M. BurbacherAbstractDomoic Acid (DA) is a naturally-occurring marine neurotoxin that is increasingly recognized as an important public health issue. Prenatal DA exposure occurs through the maternal consumption of contaminated shellfish/finfish. To better understand the fetal risks associated with DA, we initiated a longitudinal, preclinical study focused on the reproductive and developmental effects of chronic, low-dose oral DA exposure. To this end, 32 adult female Macaca fascicularis monkeys were orally dosed with 0, 0.075 or 0.15 mg/kg/day DA on a daily basis prior to breeding and throughout breeding and pregnancy. The doses included the proposed human Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) (0.075 mg/kg/day) for DA. Adult females were bred to nonexposed males. To evaluate development during early infancy, offspring were administered a Neonatal Assessment modeled after the human Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale and a series of Visual Recognition Memory problems using the novelty paradigm. Results indicated that prenatal DA exposure did not impact early survival reflexes or responsivity to the environment. Findings from the recognition memory assessment, given between 1 and 2 months of age, showed that exposed and control infants demonstrated robus...
Source: Neurotoxicology and Teratology - Category: Toxicology Source Type: research