title: Additive or synergistic effects of aluminum on the reduction of neural stem cells, cell proliferation, and neuroblast differentiation in the dentate gyrus of high-fat diet-fed mice.
abstract: Aluminum is the most plentiful metal on the Earth's crust, and its usage in cooking utensils, cosmetics, drinking containers, food additives, pharmaceutical products, and building materials provides many opportunities for potential aluminum consumption. However, its toxicity is low and harmful effects only develop with large-scale deposition of aluminum. In this study, we investigated the effects of subchronic exposure to aluminum (40 mg/kg/day) on neural stem cells, cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation, and mature neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. These experiments were performed in both high-fat diet and low-fat diet-fed C57BL/6J mice via immunohistochemistry using the relevant marker for each cell type, including nestin, Ki67, doublecortin, and NeuN. Subchronic exposure to aluminum in both low-fat and high-fat diet-fed mice reduced neural stem cells, cell proliferation, and neuroblast differentiation without any changes in mature neurons. Furthermore, this reduction effect was exacerbated in high-fat diet-fed mice. These results suggest that aluminum accelerates the reduction of neural stem cells, cell proliferation, and neuroblast differentiation additively or synergistically in high-fat diet-fed mice without any harmful changes in mature neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Jong Whi
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Woosuk
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyo Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: In Koo
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Je Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.forename: Yeo Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000535:Aluminum