[Effects of aluminum on amino acid neurotransmitters in hippocampus of rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of long-term exposure to aluminum on amino acid transmitters in hippocampus of rats.


METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups based on their body weight. Aluminum chloride was added into diet at doses of 0, 11.2, 55.9 and 111.9 mg/kg BW for 90 days successively. Neurobehavioral testing consisted of open field and passive-avoidance conditioning. The contents of amino acids were detected by HPLC. Aluminum was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy.


RESULTS
The spontaneous motor ability in the open field and the latency of passive avoidance in aluminum treated rats were decreased as compared with the controls. In hippocampus, the contents of aspartate (Asp) and glutamine (Gln) were significantly increased at the dose of 111.9 mg Al3+/kg BW (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while taurine (Tau) was significantly increased at doses of 55.9 and 111.9 mg Al3+/kg BW(P < 0.05) as compared with control. The increased values of aluminum were significantly related to the dosage of aluminum.


CONCLUSIONS
The altered content of amino acid neurotransmitters in hippocampus might be one of the important mechanisms of aluminum neurotoxicity.
Jia
Y
Y
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
Zhong
C
C
Wang
Y
Y
D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D005973:Glutamine; D013654:Taurine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D000535:Aluminum