A recent systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis of human studies found an association between prenatal serum polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) concentrations and a decrease in the IQ of children. A SR of experimental developmental animal PBDE-mediated neurotoxicity studies was performed in the present study. Outcomes assessed included measures related to learning, memory, and attention, which parallel the intelligence-related outcomes evaluated in the human studies SR. PubMed, Embase, and Toxline were searched for relevant experimental non-human mammalian studies. Evaluation of risk of bias (RoB) and overall body of evidence followed guidance developed by the National Toxicology Program. Animal studies using varying designs and outcomes were available for BDEs 47, 99, 153, 203, 206, and 209 and the technical mixture DE-71. Study reporting of methods and results was often incomplete leading to concerns regarding RoB. A meta-analysis of 6 Morris water maze studies showed evidence of a significant increase in last trial latency (effect size of 25.8 [CI, 20.3 to 31.2]) in PBDE-exposed animals with low heterogeneity. For most endpoints, there were unexplained inconsistencies across studies and no consistent evidence of a dose-response relationship. There is a “moderate” level of evidence that exposure to BDEs 47, 99, and 209 affects learning. For other PBDEs and other endpoints, the level of evidence was “low” or “very low”. The meta-analysis led to stronger conclusions than that based upon a qualitative review of the evidence. The SR also identified RoB concerns that might be remedied by better study reporting.

中文翻译：

---

多溴联苯醚（PBDE）的神经毒性：动物证据的系统评价和荟萃分析

最近的一项系统综述（SR）和对人体研究的荟萃分析发现，产前血清多溴联苯醚（PBDE）浓度与儿童智商下降之间存在关联。在本研究中进行了实验性发育动物PBDE介导的神经毒性研究的SR。评估的结果包括与学习，记忆和注意力相关的指标，与人类研究SR中评估的与智力相关的结果相平行。搜索PubMed，Embase和Toxline以进行相关的实验性非人类哺乳动物研究。根据国家毒理学计划制定的指南评估偏倚风险（RoB）和整体证据。对BDE 47、99、153、203、206和209以及技术混合物DE-71进行了采用不同设计和结果的动物研究。方法和结果的研究报告通常不完整，导致对RoB的担忧。对6项Morris水迷宫研究的荟萃分析显示，在异质性较低的PBDE暴露动物中，上次试验潜伏期显着增加（效应大小为25.8 [CI，20.3至31.2]）。对于大多数终点，研究之间存在无法解释的不一致之处，并且没有一致的证据表明剂量反应关系。有“中等”水平的证据表明，接触BDE 47、99和209会影响学习。对于其他多溴二苯醚和其他端点，证据水平为“低”或“非常低”。与基于证据的定性审查相比，荟萃分析得出的结论更强。SR还确定了可以通过更好的研究报告来纠正RoB的担忧。