Prenatal exposure to concentrated ambient PM(2.5) results in spatial memory defects regulated by DNA methylation in male mice offspring

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) exposures during pregnancy could lead to adverse birth outcomes, including neurobehavioral development defects. However, limited studies explored the effects and potential epigenetic mechanisms of maternal PM(2.5) exposure on offspring spatial memory defects. This study aims to explore the effects and underlying epigenetic mechanisms of maternal concentrated ambient PM(2.5) exposure in male mice offspring with spatial memory defects. Pregnant female C57BL/6 mice were exposed daily to concentrated ambient PM(2.5) (CAP) or filtered air (FA) throughout gestation, with the concentration of particulates (102.99 ± 78.74 μg/m(3)) and (2.78 ± 1.19 μg/m(3)), respectively. Adult male mice offspring were subsequently assessed for spatial learning and memory ability using Morris Water Maze tests and locomotor activities in open field tests. The hippocampus of the male mice offspring was harvested to test mRNA expression and DNA methylation. Results from the probe test of Morris Water Maze showed that the mice offspring in the CAP group had shorter swimming distance travelled in the target quadrant, shorter duration in the target quadrant, and less number of entries into the target quadrant (p < 0.05), suggesting spatial memory impairments. The acquisition trials of Morris Water Maze did not show a significant difference in learning ability between the groups. The mRNA level of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the CAP group hippocampus (10.80 ± 7.03) increased significantly compared to the FA group (1.08 ± 0.43). Interestingly, the methylation levels of the CpG sites in the IL-6 promoter region declined significantly in the CAP group, (5.66 ± 0.83)% vs. (4.79 ± 0.48)%. Prenatal exposure to concentrated ambient PM(2.5) induced long-lasting spatial memory defects in male mice offspring. The underlying biological mechanism might be mediated by an inflammatory reaction which is regulated by DNA methylation. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-022-24663-5.