Effects of aluminum potassium sulfate on learning, memory, and cholinergic system in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between aluminum potassium sulfate (APS) and memory deficits of mice.


METHODS
30, 60, or 90 d after the mice were given daily APS i.g., the step-through latency (STL) was determined with a passive avoidance task. Aluminum (Al) contents in brain and blood were assayed with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Acetylcholine (ACh) content in brain was determined with chemiluminescent method and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity was measured radiochemically.


RESULTS
APS 1 g.kg-1 increased blood-Al only after 30 d. After 60 d, STL, ACh content and ChAT activity decreased by 46.4%, 8.5%, and 22.6%, respectively. These parameters decreased by 50%, 11.1%, and 27.8%, respectively, with increased Al in blood and brain, after 90 d. APS 0.25 g.kg-1 had no effects on mice except blood-Al. In ethylcholine mustard aziridium chloride (AF64A) treated mice, APS 1 g.kg-1 only increased blood and brain-Al.


CONCLUSIONS
The intake of APS 1 g.kg-1.d-1 for 60 d induced learning and memory deficits in mice.
Wu
Y H
YH
Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Zhou
Z M
ZM
Xiong
Y L
YL
Wang
Y L
YL
Sun
J H
JH
Liao
H B
HB
Luo
X D
XD
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D000535:Aluminum / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D001388:Aziridines / Q000633:toxicity; D002794:Choline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000633:toxicity; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects*
D000534:Alum Compounds; D001388:Aziridines; C041524:aluminum sulfate; C044894:ethylcholine aziridinium; D000535:Aluminum; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D002794:Choline; D000109:Acetylcholine