The effects of avermectin on amino acid neurotransmitters and their receptors in the pigeon brain.
The objective of this study was to examine the effects of avermectin (AVM) on amino acid neurotransmitters and their receptors in the pigeon brain. Four groups two-month-old American king pigeons (n=20/group) were fed either a commercial diet or an AVM-supplemented diet (20mg/kg·diet, 40 mg/kg·diet, or 60 mg/kg·diet) for 30, 60, or 90 days. The contents of aspartic acid (ASP), glutamate (GLU), glycine (GLY), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain tissues were determined using ultraviolet high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The expression levels of the GLU and GABA receptor genes were analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The results indicate that AVM exposure significantly enhances the contents of GABA, GLY, GLU, and ASP in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and optic lobe. In addition, AVM exposure increases the mRNA expression levels of γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR), γ-aminobutyric acid type B receptor (GABABR), N-methyl-d-aspartate 1 receptor (NR1), N-methyl-d-aspartate 2A receptor (NR2A), and N-methyl-d-aspartate 2B receptor (NR2B) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, we found that the most damaged organ was the cerebrum, followed by the cerebellum, and then the optic lobe. These results show that the AVM-induced neurotoxicity may be associated with its effects on amino acid neurotransmitters and their receptors. The information presented in this study will help supplement the available data for future AVM toxicity studies.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 59 Mucai Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, China; Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 246 Xuefu Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150001, China.
Li-Jie
LJ
Chen
Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 246 Xuefu Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150001, China.
Bao-Hong
BH
Sun
College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 59 Mucai Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, China.
Ye
Y
Cao
College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 59 Mucai Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, China.
Hai-Dong
HD
Yao
College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 59 Mucai Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, China.
Jian-Ping
JP
Qu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 59 Mucai Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, China.
Ci
C
Liu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 59 Mucai Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, China.
Shi-Wen
SW
Xu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 59 Mucai Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, China. Electronic address: lishu@neau.edu.cn.
Shu
S
Li
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010856:Columbidae; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000235:genetics*
D000596:Amino Acids; D007306:Insecticides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D007559:Ivermectin; C019264:avermectin
Amino acid neurotransmitters; Avermectin; Pigeon; Receptors