title: Aluminum impairs rat neural cell mitochondria in vitro.
abstract: Exposure to aluminum has been reported to lead to neurotoxicity. Mitochondria are important organelles involved in maintaining cell function. This study investigates the effect of aluminum on mitochondria in rat neural cells. The ultrastructure of mitochondria was observed, and the cell death rate (CDR), reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and 3-[4,5demethyl-2-thiazalyl]-2,-5diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) were measured to investigate the effect of aluminum on the mitochondrial structure and its function in neural cells. Results observed from the mitochondrial ultrastructure show that aluminum may impair the mitochondrial membrane and cristae. Increased CDR, enhanced ROS, decreased MMP, and decreased enzyme activity in mitochondria were observed in the Al-exposed neurons (100 500 microM). The present study demonstrates that alteration in the mitochondrial structure and function plays an important role in neurotoxic mechanisms induced by aluminum.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R.China.
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Q L
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Gioacchino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boscolo
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008566:Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D000535:Aluminum; C022616:thiazolyl blue