A Scoping Review of Neurotoxic and Behavioral Outcomes Following Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Exposure in Post-Weaned Rodents

Nicole M. Breese; Sophia G. Heim; Riley J. Samuelson; Hans-Joachim Lehmler

doi:10.3390/ijms262210829

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A Scoping Review of Neurotoxic and Behavioral Outcomes Following Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Exposure in Post-Weaned Rodents

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

A Scoping Review of Neurotoxic and Behavioral Outcomes Following Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Exposure in Post-Weaned Rodents

Nicole M. Breese, Sophia G. Heim, Riley J. Samuelson and Hans-Joachim Lehmler

International journal of molecular sciences, Vol.26(22), 10829

11/07/2025

DOI: 10.3390/ijms262210829

PMCID: PMC12652203

PMID: 41303318

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Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants associated with neurodevelopmental toxicity, yet the effects of exposure during adolescence and adulthood remain underexplored. This scoping review evaluates the neurotoxic outcomes of post-weaning PCB exposure in rodent models. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Studies were screened according to PRISMA guidelines. Articles were included if they reported neurotoxic or behavioral outcomes in mice or rats exposed to PCBs during post-weaning stages. Thirty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a variety of PCB congeners and mixtures administered via oral, inhalation, or intraperitoneal routes. Reported neurotoxic outcomes included histological and morphological brain changes, oxidative stress, disrupted calcium signaling, altered neurotransmitter systems, apoptosis, and gene expression alterations. These outcomes were assessed using diverse methodological approaches, including immunohistochemistry, biochemical assays, and gene expression profiling. Behavioral outcomes affected by PCB exposure included locomotion, anxiety-like behavior, learning and memory, motor coordination, and cognitive flexibility. Effects were often exposure-specific and sex-dependent, with limited female-focused studies and integrative molecular-behavioral assessments. These findings highlight the broad neurotoxic potential of PCBs following adolescent or adult exposure and underscore the need for further mechanistic, sex-specific research to inform health risk assessment and regulatory policy.

behavioral outcomes

cognitive function

dopaminergic system

environmental neurotoxicants

large language models

neurochemical alterations

neurotoxicity

oxidative stress

polychlorinated biphenyls

post-weaning exposure

rodent models

Details

Title: Subtitle: A Scoping Review of Neurotoxic and Behavioral Outcomes Following Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Exposure in Post-Weaned Rodents
Creators: Nicole M. Breese - University of Iowa
Sophia G. Heim
Riley J. Samuelson - University of Iowa, Hardin Library
Hans-Joachim Lehmler
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: International journal of molecular sciences, Vol.26(22), 10829
DOI: 10.3390/ijms262210829
PMID: 41303318
PMCID: PMC12652203
NLM abbreviation: Int J Mol Sci
ISSN: 1422-0067
eISSN: 1422-0067
Publisher: MDPI
Grant note: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: P30ES005605, P42ES013661, R01ES014901, R01ES031098, R01ES034691
This research was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, grant numbers P30ES005605, P42ES013661, R01ES014901, R01ES031098, and R01ES034691, where the authors' own work is cited.
Language: English
Date published: 11/07/2025
Academic Unit: Public Health Administration; Occupational and Environmental Health; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Hardin Library
Record Identifier: 9985027467902771

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