[Effects of lead exposure on protein kinase C and calmodulin expression in hippocampus of baby-rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of chronic lead contaminant on protein expression of protein kinase (PKC) and calmodulin (CaM) in hippocampus of baby-rats.


METHODS
The Wistar pregnant rats were randomly divided into 3 groups fed with distilled water and lead-contained water (0.2% and 1.0% lead acetate) respectively. The lead exposure period ranged from the 0 day of pregnancy to the offspring weaned. Then the baby-rats were fed with lead water the same as their mothers. Pups were killed at postnatal day 8 and 50 respectively. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine lead content of rats' brain. Western-blotting was used to observe protein expression of PKC and CaM in hippocampus of baby-rats.


RESULTS
The brain lead content of test groups was much higher than that of the control group in the same growth period (P < 0.01). The content of brain lead in rats of postnatal day 50 was significantly higher than that of rats of postnatal day 8 (P < 0.01). Compared with control group, PKC and CaM protein expressions of chronic lead exposure baby-rats in the hippocampus were down trend (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease of PKC and CaM protein expression level in hippocampus might be one of the molecular mechanisms of lead induced impairment of learning and memory.
Liu
Zhong-hui
ZH
School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Zhang
Jing-shu
JS
Wang
Feng-shan
FS
Liu
Ke-ming
KM
Shang
Bo-dong
BD
Guan
Tong
T
Di
Jing-ru
JR
Tian
Ying
Y
D000818:Animals; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002147:Calmodulin; D007854:Lead; D011493:Protein Kinase C