Front Matter

184 Autism and Exposure to Environmental Chemicals

Effects of Fragrances on Male Oxytocin‐Receptor Positive Neurons

Positive Neurons

Here we find that male, but not female, fetal progenitor brain neurons

exposed to femtomolar concentrations of certain fragrances exhibit signifi­

cant reductions in both oxytocin‐ and AVP‐receptor positive neurons

(Figures 7.3 and 7.4). Interestingly, neuromodifications are observed by light

microscopy in both male and female NBCs following exposure to femtomolar

Control

Fragrance A

Fragrance B

Fragrance C

Figure 7.3 Effects of fragrances on male oxytocin receptor neurons. The top row shows

control cells immunostained for oxytocin male neurons at 400× magnification, and

hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained cells at 100× and 400× magnifications (respectively,

left to right). Similarly, the second, third and fourth rows show male NBCs exposed to

fragrances A, B, and C at 1:1 million dilutions, respectively. As shown in the immunostained

400× pictures, exposure to all three fragrances causes significant depletions of oxytocin

neurons. The H & E stained cells clearly show significant modulation of neurons in cellular

proliferation (increased numbers of cell clusters), axon shape, size, length and thickness, as

well as profound chromatolysis of the neurons exposed to these fragrances. Source:

Adapted from Ref. [4].