10th International Aerosol Conference
September 2 - September 7, 2018
America's Center Convention Complex
St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Abstract View

Near-Roadway Effects on Expression of Autism Spectrum Disorder-Related Phenotypes

KEITH BEIN, Christopher Wallis, Xiao-San Luo, Elizabeth Berg, Michael Pride, Kelley Patten, Anthony Valenzuela, Eduardo Gonzalez, Jill Silverman, Pamela Lein, Anthony S. Wexler, University of California Davis

Abstract Number: 634
Working Group: Aerosol Exposure

Abstract
Recent epidemiological studies have linked traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) to increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including psychomotor deficits, cognitive impairments, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition, in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that individual components of TRAP can alter neuroinflammation, alter neurotransmitter levels, and increase neurogenesis. However, TRAP exposures are challenging to reproduce in laboratory settings, and the mechanisms by which TRAP modulates neurodevelopment remain unclear. To address these issues, we exposed male and female Sprague-Dawley rats to real-time TRAP, using an exposure facility that samples air directly from a highway tunnel in the Bay Area of California used by both light- and heavy-duty vehicles. TRAP and filtered air (FA) PM samples were collected for 24 hours once every third day, and a subset of these were analyzed for particulate matter mass, organic and elemental carbon composition, and elemental composition. Gas phase samples were collected monthly on sorbents and analyzed for molecular organics. Rats were exposed to TRAP or filtered air (FA) from gestational day 15 to postnatal day 50. Following exposure, animals were assessed for ASD-relevant behavioral phenotypes and markers of brain cell development. The latter included microglial infiltration, reactive astrogliosis, and neurogenesis as assessed using immunohistochemistry, and ventricular volume and extra-cerebral volume as determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These data suggest that exposure of the developing brain to TRAP disrupts normal neurodevelopment.

This work was supported by the NIEHS (grants R21 ES025570 and P30 ES023513), NIA (grant P30AG010129), NICHD (grant U54 HD079125) and NIMH (T32 MH112507).