ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the neurodevelopmental toxicity of ACR by studying the expression of DCX and GAP-43 in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of rats after maternal exposure to acrylamide. Methods Pregnant rats were randomly divided into low-dose ACR(4.5 mg/kg),medium-dose(9 mg/kg),high dose groups(18 mg/kg)and the control group(0 mg/kg),8 in each group,and were exposed to toxicant from gestation-al day 15 to postnatal day 13. All rats and their pups were killed on postnatal day 14. ABC immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of GFAP in the hippocampus of mother rats and offspring. Results Compared with the control group,the expression of DCX and GAP-43 in hippocampus dentate gyrus of the pregnant rats in middle and high dose groups was significantly decreased(P < 0.05). Conclusion ACR may interfere with the growth and development of neurons by reducing the expression of DCX and GAP-43.