title: Alpha-lipoic acid protects against methylmercury-induced neurotoxic effects via inhibition of oxidative stress in rat cerebral cortex.
abstract: MeHg is one of the environmental pollutants that lead to oxidative stress and an indirect excitotoxicity caused by altered glutamate (Glu) concentration. However, little was known of the interaction. Therefore, we developed a rat model of MeHg poisoning to explore its neurotoxic effects, and whether LA could attenuate MeHg-induced neurotoxicity. Seventy-two rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, MeHg-treated groups (4 and 12μmol/kg), and LA pre-treatment group. Administration of the 12μmol/kg MeHg for 4 weeks significantly increased ROS formation that might be critical to aggravate oxidative damages in cerebral cortex. Meanwhile, Glu metabolism as well as GLAST and GLT-1 appeared to be disrupted by MeHg exposure. Pre-treatment of the 35μmol/kg LA significantly prevented MeHg-induced oxidative stress and Glu dyshomoestasis. In conclusion, findings indicated that MeHg could induce oxidative stress and Glu uptake/metabolism disorders in cerebral cortex, LA might antagonize these neurotoxic effects induced by MeHg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tian-Yao
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zfxu@mail.cmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhao-Fa
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yue-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D027342:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1; D027342:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C493395:Slc1a2 protein, rat; C493392:Slc1a3 protein, rat; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008063:Thioctic Acid
keywords: LA; Methylmercury; Neurotoxicity; Oxidative stress