Developmental neurotoxicity after penconazole exposure at embryo pre- and post-implantation in mice

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of penconazole fungicide at a low dose (2.5 mg/kg b.w.) during embryogenesis in either the pre- or post-implantation of embryos. Females were determined pregnant according to the presence of vaginal plug and then grouped into control and penconazole-exposures at high doses (30, 20, 10, and 5 mg/kg b.w.). These high doses provoked foetoresorptionin the first experiment. Thus, a low dose (2.5 mg/kg b. w.) was used in either the pre- or post-implantation of embryos to clarify the embryotoxicity without mortality on the developing brain and eye. Results indicate a developmental delay of the cerebral hemisphere, hippocampus, cerebellum (lobulation) and induced retinopathy during eye development in post-implantation of penconazole treated group. Also, the effect of penconazole at low dose provoked a decrease in the expression of α-synuclein in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and ganglion cell layer of the developing brain and eye. In conclusion, exposure to PEN fungicide during pregnancy at a dose (2.5 mg/kg) induces alterations in the developing brain and eye tissues.

KEYWORDS:

• Penconazole
• pre-implantation
• post-implantation
• brain
• eye
• α-synuclein
• mouse embryo
• neurotoxicity

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Zoology department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Egypt.