PM2.5 impairs neurobehavior by oxidative stress and myelin sheaths injury of brain in the rat

Highlights: • Exposure to PM2.5 can impair spatial learning and memory, inquiring ability, as well as sensory function of rats. • Neurobehavioral alterations are related to ultrastructure changes of mitochondria and myelin sheaths in rat's brain. • The risk of damaging neurobehavior increases as the exposure time increases. Air particulate matter (PM) is a serious environmental problem that has been found to cause neuropathological disorders. Although the general toxicity of PM2.5 has been intensively studied, its neurobehavior effects are poorly discussed. In this study, we aim to investigate whether different exposure time of PM2.5 influence neurobehavior of rats, induce oxidative stress, histopathologic abnormalities, apoptosis, or changes of mitochondria and myelin. The results reveal that exposure to PM2.5 impaired spatial learning and memory, inquiring ability, as well as sensory function. These alterations were related to ultrastructure changes of mitochondria and myelin sheaths, abnormal expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Caspase-3, Caspase-9). These results provide a basis for a better understanding of myelin abnormality-related neurobehavior impairment in response to PM2.5.