Assessment of epigenetic changes and oxidative DNA damage in rat pups exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and the protective effect of curcumin in the prenatal period.

Background Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic chemicals that exert neurotoxic and endocrine disrupting effects. The aims of this study were to examine the effects of prenatal Aroclor 1254 (PCBs mixture) exposure on central nervous system tissues DNA and to evaluate the effects of curcumin. Methods Rat pups were assigned to three groups: [Group 1], Aroclor 1254 administrated group; [Group 2], Aroclor 1254 and curcumin administrated group; and [Group 3], control group. Plasma, cerebrum, cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata tissue homogenates 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-(OH)DG] levels and plasma freeT4 levels were determined. Global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation status were determined in cerebrum, cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata. To this aim, DNA 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-methylcytosine levels were measured, respectively. Results Mean cerebellum and cerebral cortex 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-methylcytosine levels were higher in the control group than in the experimental groups. Mean plasma, cerebellum and cerebral cortex 8-(OH)DG concentrations were higher in Group 1 than the control group. No statistically significant difference was observed between Group 2 and the control group in terms of cerebellum and cerebral cortex 8-(OH)DG concentrations. Histopathological changes were also observed in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of rat pups exposed to Aroclor 1254. PCBs exposure changes both DNA methylation and hypomethylation status and induces cerebellar and cerebral cortex DNA damage in the prenatal period. Exogenous curcumin may have protective effect on PCBs-induced DNA damage in cerebellum and cerebral cortex.