DE71 suppresses thyroid hormone-mediated dendritogenesis and neuritogenesis in the developing cerebellum

Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) are synthesized chemicals essential to minimize accidents and deaths resulting from fire-outbreaks. Despite their usefulness, public health concern is on the increase over their use. PBDE is global in use, persistent in the environment, and possess the ability to bio-accumulate. Previous studies have suggested that they may interfere with thyroid hormone homeostasis, and are neurotoxic. We therefore investigated the effects of DE71 (a PBDE mixture) on thyroid hormone (TH)-mediated developments in the cerebellum. Employing primary cerebellar culture from new born rats, our study revealed that low dose DE71 significantly suppressed TH-mediated Purkinje cell dendrite arborization. Also, low dose DE71 remarkably impaired neurite extension of granule cells obtained from reaggregate culture of new born rat cerebella. Taken together, our study clearly reveals that DE71 can impair TH-mediated neuronal development in the cerebellum and may therefore interfere with normal TH-induced brain growth and function.