A Metabolomics Investigation Of The Impact Of Gestational Exposure To A Phthalate On The Brain And R (2011)
Undergraduates: Ranjan Banerjee, Wimal Pathmasiri, Rodney Snyder
Faculty Advisor: Susan Sumner
Department: Biology
"A Metabolomics Investigation Of The Impact Of Gestational Exposure To A Phthalate On The Brain And Reproductive Organs Of The Dam And Pre-Pubertal Pups"
The potential for human exposure to phthalates derives from their use in the production of industrial and household products. The Center for Disease Control reports measurable levels of phthalate metabolites in the general U.S. population, indicating widespread exposure. While health effects from phthalate exposure are not understood, phthalates have endocrine disruption potential and have been implicated as contributing to the obesity epidemic. Our study was conducted to reveal the impact of in utero exposure to a phthalate on the biochemical profiles of brain and reproductive organs from prepubertal pups born to dams administered butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP). Pregnant rats were exposed by gavage daily during gestation (gd 14-21) to vehicle or to BBP in vehicle at a level known to induce effects in the offspring and at a level previously not shown to induce effects. Traditional phenotypic anchors (e.g., anogenital distance, retained nipples) were measured in pups (between pnd 0 and pnd 26). Tissues were collected from the dam on post natal day (pnd) 21 (~3 wks after BBP administration), and from pnd 26 pups (~ 4 wks after birth to dosed dams) and processed for metabolomics analysis. Student’s t-tests were used to compare levels of metabolites among the BBP and vehicle- exposed groups, and multivariate analysis was used to determine metabolites that best separate groups. Using t-tests, significant differences (control vs BBP groups) in levels of metabolites in brain tissue (male and female) and testes were found for pups, but not for dams. Principle component analysis and partial least squares projection to latent structures discriminant analysis were applied to the metabolomics data and revealed metabolites most important to the separation of ll study groups. Overall- the major metabolic perturbations were rela