title: gamma-Aminobutyric acid(A) (GABA(A)) receptor regulates ERK1/2 phosphorylation in rat hippocampus in high doses of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)-induced impairment of spatial memory.
abstract: Experimental and occupational exposure to methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) has been reported to induce neurotoxicological and neurobehavioral effects, such as headache, nausea, dizziness, and disorientation, etc. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in MTBE-induced neurotoxicity are still not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of MTBE on spatial memory and the expression and function of GABA(A) receptor in the hippocampus. Our results demonstrated that intraventricular injection of MTBE impaired the performance of the rats in a Morris water maze task, and significantly increased the expression of GABA(A) receptor alpha1 subunit in the hippocampus. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 decreased after the MTBE injection. Furthermore, the decreased ability of learning and the reduction of phosphorylated ERK1/2 level of the MTBE-treated rats was partly reversed by bicuculline injected 30 min before the training. These results suggested that MTBE exposure could result in impaired spatial memory. GABA(A) receptor may play an important role in the MTBE-induced impairment of learning and memory by regulating the phosphorylation of ERK in the hippocampus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Wenbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yaoming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mingchao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yanxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jingxia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chuanshu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jingyuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen