1Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Therapeutics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, 58203, USA.
2Division of Neurotoxicology, Department of Zoology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati-517502, India.
*For correspondence - gottipolu2002@yahoo.com
Alteration in the cholinergic system is one of the major pathological hallmarks of lead (Pb) toxicity. Pb-exposure alters acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in brain regions which control learning and cognitive behavior. The present study is focused on the beneficial effects of calcium (Ca2+) and zinc (Zn2+) supplementation on Pbinduced alterations in AChE activity in the brains of developing and adult mice. Mice were lactationally exposed to Pb (0.2% and 1%) and supplemented with either calcium (Ca2+) or zinc (Zn2+) and the synaptosomal AChE enzyme activity was analyzed in cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and medulla of brains excised on postnatal day (PND) 14, 21, 28 and 3 months. The histochemical staining for AChE was also performed in the sections of mice brain. Exposure to Pb resulted in a significant decrease in the activity and staining intensity of AChE. Interestingly the supplementation with Ca2+ or Zn2+ reversed the Pbinduced effects on AChE activity and expression. These findings strongly support that calcium and zinc supplementation significantly protects the brain from the Pb-induced alterations in cholinergic system.
lead, calcium, zinc, acetylcholinesterase, synaptosomes
