Effects of bisphenol-a on oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and behavior: Lymphoblasts and drosophila melanogaster studies - potential implications in autism
Item
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Title
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Effects of bisphenol-a on oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and behavior: Lymphoblasts and drosophila melanogaster studies - potential implications in autism
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:732aa1f1399c:11991
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identifier
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12680
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Creator
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Kaur, Kulbir,
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Contributor
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Abha Chauhan
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Date
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2013
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Biology | Cellular biology | Biochemistry
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Abstract
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Autism is a behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in three main areas of social interaction, communication, and repetitive, restricted interests and behaviors. There has been an increase in the prevalence of autism with recent estimation of 1 in every 50 children diagnosed with autism. Though there is no single identifiable cause for autism, several studies have shown an increase in oxidative stress and decrease in antioxidants in autism. The role of environmental factors has also been implicated in autism. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used chemical in the manufacturing of plastics, and its exposure has raised concerns in a variety of conditions. The present study with lymphoblastoid cells and Drosophila melanogaster identifies BPA as an environmental risk factor for the increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and behavioral impairments in lymphoblasts and Drosophila melanogaster. When lymphoblastoid cells were exposed to BPA, there was an increase in lipid peroxidation and free radicals (reactive oxygen species) and decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential generation suggesting BPA induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. The study also illustrates an increase in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in the lymphoblasts in response to the BPA exposure. In neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, behavior is an important component of the condition. We therefore attempted to detect behavioral modifications in Drosophila melanogaster following exposure to BPA. In this study, we used an open field assay to help identify disturbances in locomotion along with repetitive behavior in BPA-exposed flies. We also observed an abnormal social interaction between the BPA-exposed flies in a social setting. Along with the behavioral modifications, there was also an increase in the lipid peroxidation in the brains of the BPA-exposed flies. Furthermore there was also a delay in the development of the Drosophila embryos, although we did not detect any gross morphological changes in the peripheral nervous system of the embryos following BPA exposure. We have therefore demonstrated that Drosophila may be used as an animal model for complex neurodevelopmetal disorders, which have a poorly understood etiology.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Biology
