Maternal exposure to ochratoxin A targets intermediate progenitor cells of hippocampal neurogenesis in rat offspring via cholinergic signal downregulation and oxidative stress responses

•Maternal exposure effect of OTA on hippocampal neurogenesis was examined.•Type-2 progenitor granule cells in the SGZ were reversibly reduced upon weaning.•Reduced cholinergic signals and increased oxidative stress may affect neurogenesis.•BDNF increment might be a neuroprotective mechanism for disrupted neurogenesis.•The NOAEL for offspring neurogenesis was determined to be 39.3-76.0 μg/kg BW/day.

To elucidate the developmental exposure effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) on postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis, pregnant SD rats were provided a diet containing 0, 0.12, 0.6, or 3.0 ppm OTA from gestation day 6 to day 21 on weaning after delivery. Offspring were maintained through postnatal day (PND) 77 without OTA exposure. At 3.0 ppm, offspring of both sexes showed a transient body weight decrease after weaning. Changes in hippocampal neurogenesis-related parameters as measured in male PND 21 offspring were observed at 3.0 ppm. In the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus, PAX6+ or TBR2+ cells were decreased, while GFAP+ or DCX+ cells did not fluctuate in number, suggesting decreased numbers of type-2 progenitor cells. On the other hand, SGZ cells accumulating malondialdehyde increased. In the hilus of the dentate gyrus, SST+ or CHRNB2+ γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic interneurons decreased, accompanied with transcript downregulation of Chrnb2 in the dentate gyrus. These results suggest that maternal exposure to OTA decreased type-2 progenitor cells by reducing hilar GABAergic interneurons innervating type-2 progenitor cells via cholinergic signal downregulation and also by increasing oxidative stress in the SGZ. Transcript levels of neurotrophin (Bdnf), glutamatergic receptors (Gria1, Gria2, and Grin2a), serotonin-synthesizing enzyme, and serotonergic receptors (Tph2, Htr1a, and Htr4) increased in the dentate gyrus, suggesting multiple neuroprotective actions against OTA-induced aberrant neurogenesis. All observed fluctuations were reversed by PND 77. The no-observed-adverse-effect level for offspring neurogenesis was determined to be 0.6 ppm, corresponding to 39.3-76.0 μg/kg body weight/day.