Set shifting ability of rats perinatally exposed to bisphenol A and a high fat diet

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor found ubiquitously in the environment. It has been shown to have a wide variety of effects on behavior and cognition as well as causing inflammation in the brain. Additionally, the traditional American diet is high fat, which also contributes to both physiological, behavioral and inflammation problems. Together, these two factors could exacerbate one another in the brain, which could lead to some cognitive impairment. In order to test this hypothesis, pregnant female rats consumed 0, 40, or 400 μg/kg of BPA daily and either a control (CON; 18.5% kcal) or a high-fat diet (HF, 45% kcal) during gestation. The corresponding dose of BPA was pipetted into male and female pups' mouths from postnatal days (PND) 1-10 while the dams remained on their respective diets. After PND 10, dams were placed on separate chow diet which was maintained for the remainder of the offspring's life. As adults (>PND 90), the perinatally exposed rats were tested on an extra-dimensional set-shifting task. A rotating plus maze with black/white and rough/smooth arms was used. Final analysis indicates that there were no significant treatment differences for the number of trials needed to reach criterion during the initial discrimination. Additionally, there were no significant effects of treatment for accuracy or perseveration during the extra-dimensional shift. There were significant 3-way interactions, one between dose and diet, and the other between dose and diet and block. However, post hoc analyses revealed no significant differences from control doses, only between doses of BPA. Finally, there was a significant sex difference between males and females in number of random errors made with females having more errors than males.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Cuenod, Bethany Alberta

Contributors dc:contributor

• Juraska, Janice
• Rhodes, Justin

• perinatal BPA
• high fat diet
• cognitive flexibility

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Bethany Cuenod

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/92767

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/92767