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Effects of Mono-2-ethylhexyl Phthalate on the Neural Transmission of PNs in Drosophila Antennal Lobe

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Abstract

Long-term exposure to different types of chemicals is hazardous to human health. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) could exert pleiotropic deleterious effects on nervous systems. Mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), as one of the most toxic metabolites of DEHP, may have similar effects on nervous systems. However, no effects of MEHP on neural circuits have been reported. To uncover the regulation of MEHP on neural transmission, the functional changes of neural excitability and synaptic plasticity of projection neurons (PNs) have been assessed. In the current study, we recorded the action potentials (APs), stimulate action potentials (sti-APs), mini excitement postsynaptic current (mEPSC), calcium currents, and sodium currents from PNs of isolated whole brain of Drosophila model utilizing patch clamp recordings. We found that MEHP-300 (at the concentration of 300 μM), but not MHEP-100 (at the concentration of 100 μM), significantly decreased the frequency and amplitude of APs. Besides, the amplitude and anti-amplitude of sti-APs were reduced with the application of MEHP-300. Meanwhile, MEHP-300 reduced the frequency of mEPSC, but not the amplitude. Furthermore, MEHP-300 reduced the peak current densities of sodium and calcium channels. Therefore, our results indicated that MEHP could alter the neural excitability and synaptic plasticity of PNs by inhibiting the ion channels activities, revealing the potential modulation of MEHP on neural transmission of PNs.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express sincere thanks to “Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology” for providing an experimental platform.

Funding

This work was supported by the Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing 400016. We also received support from Chongqing Natural Science Foundation (No. cstc2020jcyj-msxmX0706) and Youth Project of Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Education Commission of China (No. KJQN202000412).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of China

    Xia Liu, Junqing Yang, Zongjie Gan, Hong Wang & Dongzhi Ran

  2. The Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing, 400030, People’s Republic of China

    Xia Liu, Junqing Yang, Hong Wang & Dongzhi Ran

  3. Chongqing Public Health Medical Center, Southwest University Public Health Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, People’s Republic of China

    Zhuqin Hu

  4. The Third Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of China

    Jia Liu

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  1. Xia Liu
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Correspondence to Dongzhi Ran.

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Liu, X., Yang, J., Gan, Z. et al. Effects of Mono-2-ethylhexyl Phthalate on the Neural Transmission of PNs in Drosophila Antennal Lobe. Neurotox Res 39, 1430–1439 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12640-021-00386-2

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