Perinatal Exposure to Diesel Exhaust-Origin Secondary Organic Aerosol Induces Autism-Like Behavior in Rats

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental characterized by impaired social communication, poor interactions, and repetitive behaviors. We aimed to examine autism-like behaviors related gene expressions in rats exposed diesel exhaust (DE)-origin secondary organic aerosol (DE-SOA) perinatally. Sprague–Dawley pregnant were clean air (control), DE, DE-SOA the exposure chamber from gestational day 14 postnatal 21. Behavioral phenotypes of ASD investigated 10~13-week-old offspring using three-chambered behavior test, dominance tube marble burying test. Prefrontal cortex was collected molecular analyses including neurological immunological markers glutamate concentration, RT-PCR ELISA methods. DE-SOA-exposed male female showed sociability novelty preference, socially dominant behavior, increased behavior. Serotonin receptor (5-HT(5B)) brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNAs downregulated whereas interleukin 1 ? (IL-?) heme oxygenase (HO-1) upregulated prefrontal DE-SOA. Glutamate concentration also significantly rats. Our results indicate that perinatal may induce modulating molecules such as