[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.
School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Zhong-hui
ZH
Liu
Jing-shu
JS
Zhang
Feng-shan
FS
Wang
Ke-ming
KM
Liu
Bo-dong
BD
Shang
Tong
T
Guan
Jing-ru
JR
Di
Ying
Y
Tian
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