Effects of Subchronic Aluminum Exposure on Learning, Memory, and Neurotrophic Factors in Rats

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) is a neurotoxin that gradually accumulates in the brain in human life, resulting in oxidative brain injury related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other diseases. In this study, the learning and memory of rats exposed to different aluminum concentrations ( 0.0 g/L, 2.0 g/L, 4.0 g/L and 8.0 g/L) were studied, and the learning and memory of rats were observed by shuttle box experiment. With HE staining, Western Blot, Immuno uorescence, and RT-PCR, the morphology of nerve cells in the hippocampus of rat brain were observed, and the levels of activator protein-1 (AP-1) gene and protein, nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3(NT3), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) gene and protein level, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein level, etc. The experimental results showed that subchronic aluminum exposure damaged learning and memory in rats. The cognitive function damage in rats was more evident after increasing the aluminum intake dose. The more aluminum intake, the more pronounced the histological changes in the hippocampus will be. The expression level and protein content of neurotrophic factors in the hippocampus of rats showed a negative correlation with aluminum intake. In this experiment, we explored the mechanism of aluminum exposure in learning and memory disorders, and provided some data reference for further elucidation of the damage mechanism of aluminum on the nervous system and subsequent preventive measures.

Adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease rat model: Emerging role of SIRT1

“…That is primarily because AD is a multifactorial disorder with complex pathophysiology which is far from complete elucidation 12 . Several studies demonstrated that neurodegenerative alterations identified in the brain with elevated aluminum level were similar to those observed in AD 13–16 and that aluminum can speed up Aβ aggregation and induce neurofibrillary tangles formation in the brain 17,18 . Thus, aluminum‐induced AD model can be used for investigating the pathogenesis and novel therapeutics for AD 18,19 …”

A red fluorescent carbon dots with good water solubility for rapid detection of Al3+ in actual samples

“…Aluminium is the third (after O and Si) most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, at ~8.3%. Because of its abundant reserves, excellent stability, strong conductivity, and low density, it has been applied extensively in many fields such as construction, automobile manufacturing, food processing, and medical and health care [1, 2]. Widespread human activities have led to the release of free aluminium ions (Al 3+ ) into the ecological environment.…”