title: Cell signaling and neurotoxicity: protein kinase C in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: There is a growing concern about the effects of chemicals on the developing nervous system. Chemical exposure at critical periods of development can be associated with effects ranging from subtle to profound on the structure and/or function of the nervous system. Understanding critical biological molecular targets, which underlie chemical-induced neurotoxicity, will provide a scientific basis for risk assessment. Cell signaling molecules such as protein kinase C (PKC) have been shown to play critical roles in motor activity, development of the nervous system, and in learning and memory. PKC also has been shown to be associated with several neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, status epilepticus, and cerebellar ataxia. In the literature, there is abundant information linking PKC to cognitive function, long-term potentiation, or brain structural changes. Here, we show the relationship between changes in PKC (as assayed using radioactive material or by western blots) and the neurotoxic effects caused by environmental chemicals in vitro and in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Neurotoxicology Branch, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratories, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. kodavanti.prasada@epa.gov
authors.forename: Prasada Rao S
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Kodavanti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D051579:Neurogranin / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D007527:Isoenzymes; D051579:Neurogranin; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether; D011493:Protein Kinase C