Exposure to polystyrene particles causes anxiety-, depression-like behavior and abnormal social behavior in mice
Hyun Seung Shin, Seung Hyun Lee, Ha Jung Moon, Yun Hee So, Ha Ram Lee, Eun‐Hee Lee, Eui‐Man Jung
Abstract
In the era of plastic use, organisms are constantly exposed to polystyrene particles (PS-Ps). PS-Ps accumulated in living organisms exert negative effects on the body, although studies evaluating their effects on brain development are scarce. In this study, the effects of PS-Ps on nervous system development were investigated using cultured primary cortical neurons and mice exposed to PS-Ps at different stages of brain development. The gene expression associated with brain development was downregulated in embryonic brains following PS-Ps exposure, and Gabra2 expression decreased in the embryonic and adult mice exposed to PS-Ps. Additionally, offspring of PS-Ps-treated dams exhibited signs of anxiety- and depression-like behavior, and abnormal social behavior. We propose that PS-Ps accumulation in the brain disrupts brain development and behavior in mice. This study provides novel information regarding PS-Ps toxicity and its harmful effects on neural development and behavior in mammals.