title: [The effects of methionine and choline on the expression levels of CaMKII and CREB mRNA and proteins in rats exposed to lead].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of methionine and choline on the expression levels of CaMKII and CREB mRNA and proteins in hippocampus of rats exposed to lead.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male SD rats were divided into five groups. (1) control group, (2) group exposed to lead+2 by drinking water with 0.40 g/L lead acetate, (3) group exposed to methionine and choline (1:1, 400 mg/kg), (4) group exposed to 0.40 g/L lead acetate plus methionine and choline (1:1, 100 mg/kg), (5) group exposed to 0.40 g/L lead acetate plus methionine and choline (1:1, 400 mg/kg). In 8 weeks after exposure, all rats were killed. Then CREB mRNA and CaMK II mRNA expression levels in hippocampus were detected by real-time PCR, CREB and CaMK II protein expression levels in hippocampus were measured by western blot assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels (0.743 ± 0.185 and 0.729 ± 0.199) of CaMKII mRNA and CREB mRNA in the hippocampus of lead group were significantly lower than those (0.950 ± 0.238 and 0.901 ± 0.232) of control group (P < 0.05), also the expression levels (0.271 ± 0.045 and 0.212 ± 0.058) of CREB protein and pCREB protein in the hippocampus of lead group were significantly lower than those (0.319 ± 0.058 and 0.506 ± 0.125) of control group (P < 0.05). The expression levels (1.014 ± 0.210 and 1.126 ± 0.379) of CaMKII mRNA and the expression levels (1.029 ± 0.335 and 0.932 ± 0.251) of CREB mRNA in the hippocampus of 2 groups exposed to lead acetate plus methionine and choline were significantly higher than those of lead group (P < 0.05). The expression levels (0.407 ± 0.951 and 0.563 ± 0.178) of CREB protein and pCREB protein in the hippocampus of group exposed to lead acetate plus 400 mg/kg methionine and choline were significantly higher than those of lead group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methionine and choline could decrease the inhibition effects of lead on the expression of CaMKII and CREB mRNA or CREB and pCREB proteins in the hippocampus of rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China. fengchangfc@163.com
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Guang-qin
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Feng-yun
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yan-shu
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002794:Choline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007854:Lead; D008715:Methionine; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D002794:Choline