Neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center performed a study to test polychlorinated biphenyls (PCPs) in mice astrocytes. Astrocytes are cells that support neurons and are critical for CNS homeostasis.
PCBs were used and produced globally in the 20th century due to their stable, heat-resistant, and electrically insulating properties. They were primarily utilized in coolants, lubricants, paints, flame retardants and a variety of other industrial products. The banning of PCBs began in the 1970s and 1980s due to their toxicity, and by 2001 worldwide production ended. Unfortunately, their incredibly stable properties have allowed them to persist in the environment.
The study findings showed that PCBs can lead to oxidative stress in astrocytes. Astrocytes are key players in regulating the blood-brain barrier, neuron support, and repair mechanisms post-injury. Without the physiological stability afforded to the nervous system by astrocytes, neuron homeostasis will fail.