Perinatal exposure to 50Â ppb sodium arsenate induces hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation in male C57BL/6 mice

► Perinatal arsenic exposure (PAE) induced multiple alterations in the HPA axis. ► PAE decreased hippocampal levels of 11β-HSD 1, a regulator of intracellular CORT. ► PAE increased hypothalamic CRF with no differences in Pomc or ACTH levels. ► PAE induces persistent HPA axis dysregulation, particularly within the hippocampus.