{gamma}-aminobutyric acid{sub A} (GABA{sub A}) receptor regulates ERK1/2 phosphorylation in rat hippocampus in high doses of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE)-induced impairment of spatial memory

Journal Article · Wed Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2009.01.004· OSTI ID:21272536

Gang, Zheng; Wenbin, Zhang ^[1]; Yun, Zhang ^[2]; Yaoming, Chen; Mingchao, Liu; Ting, Yao; Yanxia, Yang; Fang, Zhao ^[1]; Jingxia, Li; Chuanshu, Huang ^[3]

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1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032 (China)
2. 465 Hospital, Jilin Medical College, Jilin 132001 (China)
3. Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York 10987 (United States)

Experimental and occupational exposure to Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) has been reported to induce neurotoxicological and neurobehavioral effects, such as headache, nausea, dizziness, and disorientation, etc. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in MTBE-induced neurotoxicity are still not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of MTBE on spatial memory and the expression and function of GABA{sub A} receptor in the hippocampus. Our results demonstrated that intraventricular injection of MTBE impaired the performance of the rats in a Morris water maze task, and significantly increased the expression of GABA{sub A} receptor {alpha}1 subunit in the hippocampus. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 decreased after the MTBE injection. Furthermore, the decreased ability of learning and the reduction of phosphorylated ERK1/2 level of the MTBE-treated rats was partly reversed by bicuculline injected 30 min before the training. These results suggested that MTBE exposure could result in impaired spatial memory. GABA{sub A} receptor may play an important role in the MTBE-induced impairment of learning and memory by regulating the phosphorylation of ERK in the hippocampus.

• OSTI ID: 21272536
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Journal Name: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 236; ISSN TXAPA9; ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BUTYL ETHER
DOSES
HIPPOCAMPUS
INJECTION
NAUSEA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERFORMANCE
PHOSPHORYLATION
RATS
RECEPTORS