title: c-fos and ornithine decarboxylase gene expression in brain as early markers of neurotoxicity.
abstract: An increase of proto-oncogene c-fos expression in cerebral cortex of rats treated with subconvulsant doses of the pesticide organochlorine lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) has been detected using Northern blots. Immunohistochemical studies show that Fos protein was already increased in neuronal nuclei 3 h after treatment. The administration of the benzodiazepine diazepam prior to lindane totally blocked the activation of this proto-oncogene expression. Parallel to this increased expression of c-fos an activation of the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene and enzyme was also observed. High levels of ODC mRNA and increased enzyme activity in cortex were found in rats following lindane treatment. These changes were attenuated by prior treatment of animals with diazepam. The co-induction of c-fos and ODC suggests a potential link between the ODC/polyamine system and the short-acting proto-oncogenes in stimulus-transcription coupling events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, C.S.I.C., Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vendrell
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Zawia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serratosa
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bondy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase; D003975:Diazepam