[Effects of lanthanum on memory and expression of c-fos mRNA and c-Fos protein of cerebral cortex in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of lanthanum on memory, and explore the corresponding mechanism from immediate early gene expression of cerebral cortex in rats.


METHODS
Female adult rats were divided into control, low, middle, and high dose lanthanum groups at random. Offspring of lanthanum groups were administrated with lanthanum from birth to weaning for one month. Ability of memory of offspring was detected by neuroethology testing. The expression levels of c-fos mRNA, c-Fos protein and Nissl body in cerebral cortex of offspring were also measured.


RESULTS
The data in neuroethology testing showed that memory of offspring in lanthanum groups were significantly lower than control level and presented dose-effect relationship to some extent. The expression levels of c-fos mRNA and c-Fos protein in cerebral cortex of low dose lanthanum group were lower significantly than control values. As to middle dose lanthanum group, the expression levels of c-fos mRNA in cerebral cortex were lower significantly than control values, and c-Fos protein expression were lower significantly than control and low dose lanthanum group. Both c-fos mRNA and c-Fos protein expression in cerebral cortex of high dose lanthanum group decreased significantly as compared with control and low dose lanthanum group. In addition, the expression levels of Nissl body in cerebral cortex of low dose lanthanum group were lower significantly than control values. The expression levels of Nissl body in cerebral cortex of middle and high dose lanthanum group decreased further.


CONCLUSIONS
Lanthanum induced deficit in memory, which is possibly related to decreased levels of immediate early gene expression and neuronal function in cerebral cortex caused by lanthanum.
Yang
Jinghua
J
Department of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China. yjh00123456@sina.com
Cai
Yuan
Y
Liu
Qiufang
Q
Zhang
Lifeng
L
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007811:Lanthanum / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C028521:lanthanum chloride; D007811:Lanthanum