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The effects of 3,3′,4,4′-tetrabromobiphenyl on rats fed diets containing a constant level of copper and varying levels of molybdenum

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Abstract

Copper (Cu) metabolism is altered in rats fed diets high in molybdenum (Mo) and low in Cu. This 10-week study was carried out to examine the effects of supplemental Mo (7.5–240 μg/g diet) on male Sprague–Dawley rats fed diets adequate in Cu (5 μg/g diet) and to determine the susceptibility of Mo-treated animals to the environmental pollutant 3,3′,4,4′-tetrabromobiphenyl (TBB). After 7 weeks of dietary treatment, half of the rats in each group received a single IP injection of TBB (150 μM/kg bw), while the other half received the corn oil vehicle. Rats sacrificed at 10 weeks showed no effects of Mo on growth, feed efficiency, or selected organ or tissue weights. Dose-dependent effects on plasma Mo (0–5.1 μg/mL), plasma Cu (0.95–0.20 μg/mL), and bone Cu (3.4–10 μg/g) in control through the high dose were found. Cu sequestration in the bone of Mo-treated rats is a new finding. TBB treatment resulted in dramatic weight loss and loss of absolute organ mass. Relative organ weights were increased, except for the thymus. TBB altered the concentrations of certain amino acids. Compared to control rats, this polybrominated biphenyl congener significantly decreased plasma Cu and ceruloplasmin at higher concentrations of dietary Mo and promoted the process of plasma Cu decrease by Mo, suggesting a combined effect.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank William Klaren for the helpful discussion and valuable suggestions. The authors also thank Dr. Izabela Kania-Korwel for independently determining the purity of TBB.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA

    Kadhim N. Salman, T. Borges & Larry W. Robertson

  2. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA

    Mary A. Stuart

  3. Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Lexington, KY, 40511, USA

    Jack Schmidt

  4. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USA

    T. Borges

  5. Departments of Medicine, and Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA

    Craig J. McClain

  6. Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Farrel R. Robinson

  7. Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Toxicology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Miao Li & Larry W. Robertson

  8. Department of Medicine, Robley Rex Louisville VAMC, Louisville, KY, 40206, USA

    Craig J. McClain

  9. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, 100 Oakdale Campus #219 IREH, Iowa City, IA, 52242-5000, USA

    Larry W. Robertson

Authors
  1. Kadhim N. Salman
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  2. Mary A. Stuart
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  4. T. Borges
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  5. Craig J. McClain
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  7. Miao Li
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  8. Larry W. Robertson
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Correspondence to Larry W. Robertson.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Farrel R. Robinson passed away prior to the publication of this study.

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Salman, K.N., Stuart, M.A., Schmidt, J. et al. The effects of 3,3′,4,4′-tetrabromobiphenyl on rats fed diets containing a constant level of copper and varying levels of molybdenum. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 6400–6409 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1638-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1638-5

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