title: Quercetin relieves chronic lead exposure-induced impairment of synaptic plasticity in rat dentate gyrus in vivo.
abstract: Increasing evidence suggests that lead (Pb) produces impairments partly through oxidative stress. Though many researchers have investigated protective effect of some antioxidant nutrients against Pb toxicity, little information is available about the effect of antioxidants on Pb-induced impairment of synaptic plasticity. Quercetin, a strong antioxidant and radical scavenger, is the representative natural flavonoid molecule abundant in fruits and vegetables. Previous studies have found that quercetin was neuroprotective in many cases. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of quercetin on chronic Pb exposure-induced impairment of synaptic plasticity in adult rat dentate gyrus (DG) area in vivo. The input/output (I/O) functions, paired-pulse reactions (PPR), excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP), and population spike (PS) amplitude were measured in the DG area of different groups of rats in response to stimulation applied to the lateral perforant path. The results showed that the depressed I/O, PPR, and long-term potentiation (LTP) of Pb-exposed group were significantly increased by quercetin treatment. In addition, hippocampal Pb concentration was partially reduced after quercetin treatment. These findings suggest that quercetin treatment could relieve chronic Pb exposure-induced impairment of synaptic plasticity and might be a potential therapeutic intervention to cure cognitive deficits induced by Pb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, Peoples Republic of China.
authors.forename: Pu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei-Heng
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shu-Ting
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Ju-Tao
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hui-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Di-Yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Ruan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007854:Lead; D011794:Quercetin