An increasing interest has been developed in the past 15 years in the relationship between trace elements and cell functioning. In the present work the possibility of transgenerational effects of Te was investigated in rats. F1 generation exposed to K2TeO3 (1.55nM) from day 1 of pregnancy until litters were 30 day old, these animals with no other treatment than tap water and food were let to reach 60-70 day old. At this age, female rats were mated with normal untreated male rats. The F2 generation also without any Te treatment was allowed to grow until 30 days of age. At this age, behavioral tests measuring exploration induced by novelty, lateralized exploration, social interaction and survival behavior were applied. Results showed that head-dipping, rearing, lateralized exploration, social interaction, and survival behaviors, affected by Te treatment in F1 generation, also were modified in the same manner in F2 generation. These data show that Te effects on coping behavior in rats are preserved epigenetically in the next generation.
Keywords: Epigenetic changes; Lateralized behaviors; Tellurium; Transgenerational effects.
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