Effects of Exposure to Aluminum on Long-term Potentiation and AMPA Receptor Subunits in Ratsin vivo
doi: 10.3967/bes2014.006
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Key words:
- Aluminum-maltolate complex /
- Long-term potentiation /
- AMPA receptor /
- Hippocampus /
- in vivo
Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the effects of exposure to aluminum(Al) on long-term potentiation(LTP) and AMPA receptor subunits in rats in vivo.
MethodsDifferent dosages of aluminum-maltolate complex[Al(mal)3] were given to rats via acute intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.)injection and subchronic intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Following Al exposure, the hippocampal LTP were recorded by field potentiation techniquein vivo and the expression of AMPAR subunit proteins (GluR1 and GluR2) in both total and membrane-enriched extracts from the CA1 area of rat hippocampus were detected by Western blot assay.
ResultsAcute Al treatment produced dose-dependent suppression of LTP in the rat hippocampus and dose-dependent decreases of GluR1and GluR2in membrane extracts; however, no similar changes were found in the total cell extracts, which suggests decreased trafficking of AMPA receptor subunits from intracellular pools to synaptic sites in the hippocampus. Thedose-dependent suppressive effects on LTP and the expression of AMPA receptor subunits both in the membrane and in total extracts were found after subchronic Al treatment, indicating a decrease in AMPA receptor subunit trafficking from intracellular poolsto synaptic sites and an additional reduction in the expression of the subunits.
ConclusionAl(mal)3obviously and dose-dependently suppressed LTP in the rat hippocampal CA1 region in vivo, and this suppression may be related to both trafficking and decreases in the expression of AMPA receptor subunit proteins. However, the mechanisms underlying these observations need further investigation.
Citation: | SONG Jing, LIU Ying, ZHANG Hui Fang, ZHANG Qin Li, NIU Qiao. Effects of Exposure to Aluminum on Long-term Potentiation and AMPA Receptor Subunits in Ratsin vivo[J]. Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, 2014, 27(2): 77-84. doi: 10.3967/bes2014.006 |