All rights reserved.Ību Zeid EH, Hussein MMA, Ali H (2018). Here we conducted a critical review of the available literature on Cr(VI) neurotoxicity and synthesize the collective observations to thoroughly evaluate Cr(VI) neurotoxicity - much remains to be understood and recognized.īrain Glia Hexavalent chromium Metals Neurotoxicity.Ĭopyright © 2021 The Authors. One study showed mice exposed to Cr(VI)-laden tannery effluent exhibited longer periods of aggressive behavior toward an 'intruder' mouse and took longer to recognize mice previously encountered, recapitulating the social memory deficits observed in humans. Studies of Cr(VI) neurotoxicity with animal and cell culture models have demonstrated elevated markers of oxidative damage and redox stress, with widespread neurodegeneration. Instead, in the human brain, Cr(VI) appears to have more subtle deleterious effects that can impair childhood learning and attention development, olfactory function, social memory, and may contribute to motor neuron diseases. In the few studies that did find a link, Cr(VI) was identified as a risk for gliomas.

Despite its well-established role as a human carcinogen, Cr(VI) neurotoxicity studies have failed to find a significant link to brain cancers. This review focuses on Cr(VI), a potent clastogen and known human carcinogen, as a potentially neurotoxic agent targeting mitotic cells of the brain. We have learned these dividing cells play essential roles in brain and body health.

Today, we understand the brain is composed of at least eight distinct cell types - most of which continue mitotic activity throughout lifespan. Traditionally, the brain has been viewed as a largely post-mitotic organ due to its specialized composition of neurons, and consequently, clastogenic effects were not considered in neurotoxicology. Hexavalent chromium is a global environmental pollutant that increases risk for several types of cancers and is increasingly being recognized as a neurotoxicant.

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