[Influence of benzo[a]pyrene on learning and memory and content of amino acid neurotransmitters in hippocampus of rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on capability of learning and memory and the content of amino acid neurotransmitters in hippocampus of rats.


METHODS
Thirty-two healthy, male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to their weights after intubated into ventricles: the solvent control group, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mmol/L groups. 10 microl of B[a]P olive oil solutions, of different concentrations 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mmol/L, were injected into rats' lateral ventricles, respectively. Rats in the solvent control group were injected into the same volume of olive oil as that in B[a]P group. Rats' capability of learning and memory was tested by Morris water maze. The content of amino acid neurotransmitters in rats' hippocampus were determined by high performance liquid chromatogram with a fluorescence detector.


RESULTS
Compared with the controls, the performances of learning and memory of rats decreased significantly in B[a]P treated groups (P<0.01). Levels of glutamate (Glu) were lower significantly in treated groups than that in controls (P<0.01). No significant differences were found in contents of aspartic acid (Asp), glycine (Gly) and aminobutyric acid (GABA) among the four groups.


CONCLUSIONS
B[a]P can damage rats' spatial learning and memory, and which could be related to decreased contents of excitatory amino acids in hippocampus.
Zhang
Hong-mei
HM
Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
Nie
Ji-sheng
JS
Xue
Cui-e
CE
Zhao
Jie
J
Ji
Xiu-liang
XL
Li
Mei-qin
MQ
Guo
Wei-li
WL
Niu
Qiao
Q
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000596:Amino Acids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene