Effects of Plasticizer Acetyl Tributyl Citrate Exposure on Learning and Memory Abilities and Protective Effects of Vitmain E

In order to investigate the effects of plasticizer acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) exposure on learning and memory abilities and protective effects of vitmain E (V_E). C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 200 mg/kg·day for 90 days by gavage, and the V_E gavage was performed at 50 mg/kg·day during ATBC exposure as a V_E protection group. The learning and memory abilities were detected by Morris water maze test and Step-down passive avoidance test, the pathological changes of brain tissue were observed, the oxidative stress and inflammation levels in mice brain were detected. Results showed that under the experimental conditions, ATBC exposure induced learning and memory disorder, abnormal structure of hippocampus and cerebral cortex in mice; the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynoneal (4-HNE) in mice brain increased, while glutathione (GSH) content and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased, and the expression of nuclear transcription κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) increased. After V_E gavage, the learning and memory disorder of the mice in the protection group was significantly recovered (P<0.05), hippocampus and cerebral cortex tissue abnormalities were improved, the contents of ROS, MDA, 4-HNE, NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β in the brain tissues significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the GSH contents and SOD activity significantly increased (P<0.05). This study showed that gavage exposure of 200 mg/kg·day ATBC for 90 days could induce learning and memory disorder and brain damage in mice, while V_E could protect the brain tissue of mice by reducing the levels of oxidative stress and inflammation, and the learning and memory abilities were significantly improved.