title: Elevation of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the mouse brain after chronic nonylphenol exposure.
abstract: The present study was performed to investigate the effects of chronic administration of nonylphenol (NP) on the expression of inflammation-related genes in the brains of mice. NP was given orally by gavages at 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/d. The expression of inflammatory enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting assays. The nitric oxide (NO) level and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity were also measured by biochemical analyses. The results showed that NP at a high dose (200 mg/kg/d) significantly increased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in both the hippocampus and cortex. In parallel with the increase in iNOS expression, the NO level was significantly greater at the dose of 200 mg/kg/d, compared to the control. The activity of NOS was also increased in the brain of mice at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg/d. These findings demonstrate that NP may have the potential to induce the chronic inflammation or cause neurotoxicity in the mouse brain.
authors.affiliation: China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, P R China.
authors.forename: Yan-Qiu
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yuan-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Bao-Ping
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Ling-Tong
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li