Characterization of the C17.2 cell line as testing system for endocrine disruption-induced developmental neurotoxicity.

Hormone signaling plays an essential role during fetal life and is vital for brain development. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can interfere with the hormonal milieu during this critical time-period, disrupting key neurodevelopmental processes. Hence, there is a need for the development of assays that evaluate developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) induced by an endocrine mode of action. Herein, we evaluated the applicability of the neural progenitor C17. 2 cell-line, as an in vitro test system to aid in the detection of endocrine disruption (ED) induced DNT. For this, C17.2 cells were exposed during 10 days of differentiation to agonists and antagonists of the thyroid hormone (Thr), glucocorticoid (Gr), retinoic acid (Rar), retinoic x (Rxr), oxysterols (Lxr), estrogen (Er), androgen (Ar), and peroxisome proliferator activated delta (Pparβ/δ) receptors, as well as to the agonist of the vitamin D (Vdr) receptor. Upon exposure and differentiation, neuronal morphology (neurite outgrowth and branching), and the percentage of neurons in culture were assessed by immunofluorescence. For this, the cells were incubated with Hoechst (nuclear staining) and stained for βIII-tubulin (neuronal marker). The C17.2 cells were responsive to the Rar, Rxr and Pparβ/δ agonists which decreased neurite outgrowth and branching. Additionally, exposure to the Gr agonist increased the number of cells differentiating into neurons, while exposure to the Rxr agonist had the opposite effect. With this approach, we have identified that the C17.2 cells are responsive to Gr, Rar, Rxr, and Pparβ/δ agonists, hence contributing to the development of test systems for hazard assessment of ED-induced DNT.