Effects of chronic triclosan exposure on social behaviors in adult mice

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 424; no. Pt C; p. 127562
• Main Authors: Hao, Ying, Meng, Li, Zhang, Yan, Chen, Aixin, Zhao, Ye, Lian, Kaoqi, Guo, Xiangfei, Wang, Xinhao, Du, Yuru, Wang, Xi, Li, Xuzi, Song, Li, Shi, Yun, Yin, Xi, Gong, Miao, Shi, Haishui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.02.2022
• Subjects: Animals; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; gut microbiota; hippocampus; Male; Memory Disorders; memory formation; Mice; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Social Behavior; social dominance; synaptic plasticity; TCS; Triclosan - toxicity; social dominance; synaptic plasticity; hippocampus; TCS; memory formation; gut microbiota
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127562

Triclosan (TCS), a newly identified environmental endocrine disruptor (EED) in household products, has been reported to have toxic effects on animals and humans. The effects of TCS exposure on individual social behaviors and the potential underlying mechanisms are still unknown. This study investigated the behavioral effects of 42-day exposure to TCS (0, 50, 100 mg/kg) in drinking water using the open field test (OFT), social dominance test (SDT), social interaction test (SIT), and novel object recognition task (NOR). Using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we observed the effects of TCS exposure on the gut microbiota and ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons and synapses. Behavioral results showed that chronic TCS exposure reduced the social dominance of male and female mice. TCS exposure also reduced social interaction in male mice and impaired memory formation in female mice. Analysis of the gut microbiota showed that TCS exposure increased the relative abundance of the Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla in female mice. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that TCS exposure induced ultrastructural damage to hippocampal neurons and synapses. These findings suggest that TCS exposure may affect social behaviors, which may be caused by altered gut microbiota and impaired plasticity of hippocampal neurons and synapses. [Display omitted] •Chronic TCS exposure reduced social dominance in adult mice.•Chronic TCS exposure impaired memory formation in female mice.•Chronic TCS exposure altered the composition of gut microbiota in female mice.•Chronic TCS exposure induced ultrastructural damage to hippocampal neurons and synapses in adult mice.