Pregnant rats exposed to low level methylmercury exhibit cerebellar synaptic and neuritic remodeling during the perinatal period

Abstract

Exposure of pregnant rats to low level MeHg induced cerebellar synaptic and neuritic remodeling during the perinatal period. We identified suppression of the TrkA pathway and reduced Arc expression in MeHg-exposed pregnant rats during the perinatal period. MeHg-exposed pregnant rats also exhibited increased perinatal plasma corticosterone levels and decreased estradiol levels. These results suggest that exposure of pregnant rats to low level MeHg affected perinatal cerebellar synaptic and neuritic remodeling through modulation of the TrkA pathway and Arc expression which may be caused by MeHg-induced hormonal changes.