Alterations in CNS Functions and DNA Methylation in Rats after 24 h Exposure to Peat Smoke.

Vera A Vokina,Larisa M Sosedova,Ekaterina A Kapustina,Viktor S Rukavishnikov,Elizaveta S Andreeva,Anton N Alekseenko,Mikhail A Novikov

doi:10.3390/toxics9120342

Vera A Vokina, Larisa M Sosedova + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9120342

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Abstract

The use of a developed experimental model of a natural fire made it possible to assess the consequences of 24 h exposure to peat combustion products in albino rats. Peat smoke exposure leads to behavioral disturbances in rats, characterized by an increase in locomotor activity and an increased level of anxiety. Indicators of brain bioelectrical activity of the exposed animals supported the state of anxiety and psychoemotional stress. Epigenetic changes in the blood cells of exposed animals were revealed under 24 h exposure to peat smoke, characterized by a decrease in the level of global DNA methylation.

Highlights

Peat fires, reported in many parts of the world, with the largest in Indonesia [1,2], Russia [3], the USA [4,5,6,7], and Africa [8], are becoming a global problem
Experimental modeling of smoke from a peat fire for 24 h revealed a neurotoxic effect characterized by changes in behavior and electrophysiological indicators in rats, indicating the formation of an increased level of stress, which goes beyond physiological adaptation
The results obtained in the current study are consistent with research conducted by Amendola et al (2019), which showed that the accumulation of CO2 leads to hypercapnia and respiratory acidosis, as a result of which the brain regions, ion channels, and neurotransmitters involved in the formation of negative emotional reactions in rats are activated [26]

Summary

Introduction

Peat fires, reported in many parts of the world, with the largest in Indonesia [1,2], Russia [3], the USA [4,5,6,7], and Africa [8], are becoming a global problem. A few investigations are devoted to the study of the toxic properties of smoke from peat fires They mainly target the pulmonotoxic effects of acute exposure to particulate matter [10,11]. An increasing number of publications have appeared indicating the presence of epigenetic changes caused by toxicants of various chemical structures in low doses that do not lead to mutations [18] In this regard, the problem of the long-term consequences of wildfire smoke exposure and accumulated chemical load from parents is gaining importance. Environmental epigenetics focuses on cell or organism responses to environmental factors, creating altered phenotypes or diseases In this case, epigenetic modifications can be one of the mechanisms for the formation of long-term consequences of the effect of chemical stress induced by smoke from wildfires on rats and on the postnatal development of their offspring. It is of particular interest to study the neurotoxic effects of peat smoke and its effect on the level of DNA fragmentation and methylation in a model experiment

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