Chronic aluminum administration to old rats results in increased levels of brain metal ions and enlarged hippocampal mossy fibers.
The effect of chronic aluminium administration (2 g/L/6 months) was investigated in the central nervous system (CNS) of old rats. The content of Al(3+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Mn(2+) was measured in prosencephalon + mesencephalon, pons-medulla, and cerebellum. The area occupied by the mossy fibers in the hippocampal CA3 zone was also measured. In Al-treated rats the contents of Al(3+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Mn(2+) were significantly increased in prosencephalon + mesencephalon and pons-medulla, while no change was observed in the cerebellum except a Cu(2+) decrease. The area occupied by the mossy fibers in the CA3 field was significantly increased (+32%) in Al-treated rats. Taken together, the present findings document that the aging CNS is particularly susceptible to aluminum toxic effects that may be responsible for a consistent rise in the cell load of oxidative stress. This may contribute, as an aggravating factor, to the development of neurodegenerative events, as observed in Alzheimer disease.
Fattoretti
Patrizia
P
Neurobiology of Aging Laboratory, INRCA Research Department, Via Birarelli 8, 60121 Ancona, Italy. p.fattoretti@inrca.it
Bertoni-Freddari
Carlo
C
Balietti
Marta
M
Giorgetti
Belinda
B
Solazzi
Moreno
M
Zatta
Paolo
P
D000535:Aluminum / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000494:pharmacology; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011149:Pons / Q000378:metabolism; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology
D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D000535:Aluminum; D015032:Zinc