Title: Apoptosis of Hippocampal Neurons Induced by Methylmercury in Rats
Abstract: Objective To study the hippocampal neurons damage and apoptosis induced by methylmercury in rats and to know the potential mechanism of neurotoxicity of methylmercury. Methods The cell viability was measured by MTT (thiazolyl blue). The number of apoptotic cells and apoptotic rate of neurons were measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method and flow cytometry. In addition, laser scanning confocal microscope was used to test the change of intracellular free calcium concentration in single rat hippocampal neurons. Results After 24 h of incubation with methylmercury at 0.1 μmol/L, the killing rate was (22.90±2.77)%, the apoptosis rate was (51.20±4.98) % and the apoptosis index was higher than the control (P0.01). The study of laser scanning confocal microscope found that methylmercury at the doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1μmol/L increased intracellular calcium concentration by 5.58%,82.71% and 246.38% respectively. This effect could be partially inhibited by pre-administration of 10 μmol/L nifedipine for 10 min. Conclusion The damage and apoptosis caused by methylmercury may be associated with the increase of intracellular calcium concentration which may be at least partly related with voltage-gated calcium current in rat hippocampal neurons.
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Date: 2008-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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