Journal Article

Acute lead acetate induces neurotoxicity through decreased synaptic plasticity-related protein expression and disordered dendritic formation in nerve cells

Yin, Zhihong, Ning, Hongmei, Liu, Yuye, Hu, Dongfang, Jia, Penghuan, Chen, Lingli, Ge, Yaming, Zhang, Hongli

2022

Overview

Lead (Pb) is a widespread environmental heavy metal that can damage the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, and reduce the learning and memory ability in humans and animals. In vivo and in vitro models of acute lead acetate exposure were established to further study the mechanism of neurons injury. In this study, 4-week-old female Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups. Each group was treated with distilled water with different Pb concentrations (0, 2.4, 4.8 and 9.6 mM). Mice were killed, and brain tissues were collected to detect the changes in synaptic plasticity-related protein expression. Furthermore, Neuro-2A cells were treated with 0, 5, 25 and 50 μM lead acetate for 24 h to observe the changes in cell morphology and function. In in vivo experiment, results showed that the expression levels of cytoskeleton-associated and neural function-related proteins decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the mouse brain tissue. In in vitro experiment, compared with the control group, Pb treatment groups were observed with smaller and round cells, decreased cell density and number of synapses. In the Pb exposure group, the survival rate of nerve cells decreased evidently, and the permeability of the cell membrane was increased. Western blot results showed that the expression of cytoskeleton-associated and function-related proteins decreased gradually with increased Pb exposure dose. Confocal laser scanning microscopy results revealed the morphological and volumetric changes in Neuro-2A cells, and a dose-dependent reduction in the number of axon and dendrites. These results suggested that abnormal neural structures and inhibiting expression of synaptic plasticity-related proteins might be the possible mechanisms of Pb-induced mental retardation in human and animals, thereby laying a foundation for the molecular mechanism of Pb neurotoxicity.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Animal tissues / Animals / Aquatic Pollution / Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution / axons / Brain / Cell density / Cell membranes / Cell morphology / Cerebral cortex / Confocal microscopy / Cytology / Cytoskeleton / Dendrites / Dendritic plasticity / Distilled water / dose response / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecotoxicology / Environment / Environmental Chemistry / Environmental Health / Environmental science / Exposure / females / Heavy metals / hippocampus / Intellectual disabilities / Lead / lead acetate / Lead acetates / Membrane permeability / memory / mice / microscopy / Morphology / nerve tissue / Nerves / Neurotoxicity / permeability / Plasticity / Protein expression / protein synthesis / Proteins / Research Article / Scanning microscopy / Survival / survival rate / Synapses / Synaptic plasticity / Waste Water Technology / Water Management / Water Pollution Control / Western blotting