Abstract

Acrylamide is a type-2 alkene monomer with established human neurotoxic effects. The primary source of human exposure to acrylamide is occupational; other exposure sources include food, drinking water, and smoking. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of acrylamide on the development of the medulla oblongata and oxidative stress during pre- and perinatal maternal acrylamide exposure in newborn rats. Acrylamide was orally administered to non-anesthetized pregnant females in a water solution at 10 mg/kg/day using gastric intubation. The newborn rats were divided into 3 groups: 1. Normal newborns (Group A); 2. Newborns whose mothers received acrylamide from day 7 of gestation until birth (prenatal intoxicated group; Group B); and  3. Newborns whose mothers received acrylamide from day 7 of gestation until day 28 after birth (perinatal intoxicated group; Group C). The results of this study show that acrylamide leads to significantly increased lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress disturbances in the developed medulla oblongata. This action induces various dramatic tissue changes, and these abnormalities were reflected in the external features of the newborns and their body weights. In conclusion, acrylamide and its toxic metabolites induce malformations in newborn rats if their mother is chronically exposed during the gestation and lactation periods.

Key words: Acrylamide, medulla oblongata, oxidative stress, development, newborns.