Behavioral Effects of Aluminum in Mice: Influence of Restraint Stress

Abstract

The influence of restraint stress on potential aluminum (Al)-induced behavioral changes was assessed in CD-1 mice. Three groups of adult mice were given 0, 300 and 600 mg Al/kg body weight per day in drinking water for 2 weeks. One-half of the animals in each group were concurrently subjected to restraint stress during 1 h per day throughout the study. After cessation of treatment, open-field activity, active avoidance learning, and motor resistance and coordination of the animals were evaluated. At the end of the behavioral testing period, mice were killed and Al concentrations were determined in a number of tissues. There were no remarkable effects of Al, restraint stress or their combined administration on either open-field activity or on the number of avoidances in an automatic reflex conditioner. However, a lower motor resistance and coordination in a rotarod were observed following exposure to Al at 600 mg/kg/day, restraint alone or concurrent administration of Al (300 and 600 mg/kg/day) plus restraint stress. The levels of Al in whole brain and cerebellum were significantly enhanced in mice exposed to Al plus restraint. Although the present results scarcely show Al-induced neurobehavioral effects, the influence of restraint stress on Al levels in whole brain and cerebellum can be the basis for further studies on the potential role of this element in certain neurological disorders.

Memory performance, brain excitatory amino acid and acetylcholinesterase activity of chronically aluminum exposed mice in response to soy isoflavones treatment

“…The results of this study showed that SI treatment improved the long memory performance of chronically Al exposed mice. Concerning the correlation of Al with learning and memory ability, previous studies have shown that Al may involve the formation of neurofi brillary tangles and cognitive defi cits in Alzheimer's disease (Alleva et al, 1998;Colomina et al, 1999;Golub et al, 1995;Neill et al, 1996;Pratico et al, 2002). A large increase of Al content in experimental animals due to Al exposure was observed in the hippocampus, which is the site of memory and learning (Julka and Gill, 1996).…”

“…Extensive studies have shown a potential link between chronic aluminum (Al) exposure and cognitive defi cits (Akila et al, 1999;Alleva et al, 1998;Colomina et al, 1999;Nayak and Chatterjee, 2001;van Rensburg et al, 2001). Aluminum is considered a potential etiological factor in Alzheimer's disease because Al might induce characteristic brain neurofi brillary of the disease (ElRahman, 2003).…”

Longitudinal study on potential neurotoxic effects of aluminium: I. Assessment of exposure and neurobehavioural performance of Al welders in the train and truck construction industry over 4 years

“…Fourthly, the neurobehavioural studies model mainly acute high (e.g. Colomina et al 1999;Yen-Koo 1992) but not long-term and moderate Al exposure representing a model of occupational life time loads.…”

“…Colomina et al 1999), a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite for central neurobehavioural effects. A relatively direct admission of Al from the air to the brain is also possible over olfactory paths, whereas the significance of the uptake is uncertain.…”

Effects of restraint stress in gestation: Implications for rodent developmental toxicology studies

“…Table 1 includes a number of studies by Colomina and collaborators in which restraint during organogenesis in mice was not effective in producing fetal effects (Colomina et al, 1995,1997,1998,1999a,1999b,2001; Albina et al, 2002; Torrente et al, 2002). These studies were conducted to examine the possible interaction between stress and toxicant administration, rather than the effects of stress alone.…”