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Learning and memory disorders related to hippocampal inflammation following exposure to air pollution

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Abstract

It has been demonstrated that sub-chronic exposure to air pollution containing nanoscale (˂100 nm) diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) may lead to excessive oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation in adult male mice. Hereby, we investigated the effects of DEPs on hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and neuro-inflammation and memory-related gene expression in male mice. In this study, we divided 48 adult NMRI male mice into control group VS. three exposure groups. Mice were exposed to 300-350 μg/m3 DEPs for 2, 5, and 7 h daily for 12 weeks. The Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Elevated Plus Maze device were used to examine anxiety, spatial memory and learning, respectively. The mRNAs expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits, and glutaminase were studied in hippocampus (HI) by real-time RT-PCR. Besides, malondialdehyde (MDA) tests were used to determine the state of oxidative stress. After 5 and 7 h. of DEPs exposure, mRNA expression of NR2A and NR3B IL1α, IL1β, TNFα, NMDA receptor subunits and MDA levels increased significantly (P < 0.05). Also, DEPs exposed mice for 2, 5, and 7 h. showed diminished entrance into open arms with short time spent there. Indeed, 5 and 7 h/day exposed mice required a longer time to reach the hidden platform. Sub-chronic exposure to DEPs increased oxidative stress markers, neuroinflammation, anxiety, impaired spatial learning and memory.

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The dataset used in this study is available with the authors and can be made available upon request.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Ehsanifar Lab. for technical assistance. This work was supported by Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Mojtaba Ehsanifar

  2. Research Center for Environmental Health Technology and department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of public health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mojtaba Ehsanifar, Ahmad Jonidi Jafari, Roshanak Rezaei Kalantari & Mitra Gholami

  3. Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism Research and Training Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Zeinab Montazeri

  4. Department of Occupational health engineering, School of public health, Iran University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Azadeh Ashtarinezhad

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  1. Mojtaba Ehsanifar
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Ehsanifar, M., Jafari, A.J., Montazeri, Z. et al. Learning and memory disorders related to hippocampal inflammation following exposure to air pollution. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 19, 261–272 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00600-x

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