Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) ameliorates the suppression of thyroid hormone-induced granule cell neurite extension by hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)

Thyroid hormone (TH) plays an essential role in growth and differentiation of the central nervous system. Deficiency of TH during perinatal period results in abnormal brain development known as cretinism in human. We recently reported that an environmental chemical 1,2,5,6,9,10-α-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) suppressed TH receptor (TR)-mediated transcription. To examine the effect of HBCD on cerebellar granule cells, we used purified rat cerebellar granule cells in reaggregate culture. Low dose HBCD (10−10 M) significantly suppressed TH-induced neurite extension of granule cell aggregate. To clarify further the mechanisms of such suppression, we added brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) into culture medium, since BDNF plays a critical role in promoting granule cell development and is regulated by TH. BDNF completely rescued HBCD-induced suppression of granule cell neurite extension in the presence of T3. These results indicate that HBCD may disrupt TH-mediated brain development at least in part due to a disruption of the T3 stimulated increase in BDNF and BDNF may possess ability to ameliorate the effect of HBCD in granule cells.

Research highlights
► HBCD disrupts TH-mediated neurite extension of cerebellar granule cells.
► Increased TH did not ameliorate HBCD-induced impairment of neurite extension.
► Disruption by HBCD may be due to a disruption of T3-stimulated increase in BDNF.
► BDNF may possess ability to ameliorate the effect of HBCD in granule cells.