Expression of the 68-kilodalton neurofilament gene in aluminum intoxication

Conference · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5499091

Muma, N A; Troncoso, J C; Hoffman, P N; Price, D L

Intrathecal administration of aluminum salts induces accumulation of neurofilaments (NFs) in cell bodies and proximal axons of rabbit spinal motor neurons. Mechanisms leading to this pathological change are not well understood. Although impairments of NF transport have been demonstrated in this model, the hypothesis that NF accumulations are the result of an increase in NF synthesis needs to be explored. In rabbits, a large percentage of neurons develop accumulations of NFs following injections of aluminum lactate directly into the cisterna magna or into a reservoir placed in the lateral ventricle. To study levels of mRNA encoding cytoskeletal proteins, spinal cord RNA was extracted, separated on a denaturing agarose gel, transferred to nitrocellulose paper, and hybridized to (/sup 32/P)-labeled cDNA clones encoding the mouse 68-kilodalton (kd) NF subunit and tubulin. Examining a constant amount of RNA, the radioactivity of labeled mRNA bands for the 68-kd NF subunit and for tubulin was decreased in spinal cords of aluminum-treated rabbits. These preliminary results will be followed up by in situ hybridization to determine levels of mRNA for tubulin and 68-kd NF subunit in affected and in normal spinal neurons. In conclusion, administration of aluminum decreased mRNA for the 608-kd NF protein in spinal neurons.

• Research Organization: Johns Hopkins Univ. School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
• OSTI ID: 5499091
• Report Number(s): CONF-8604222-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Journal Volume: 45:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550401 -- Genetics-- Tracer Techniques
560301* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Cells-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALUMINIUM
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
CELL CULTURES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CLONE CELLS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DNA
ELEMENTS
GENES
HYBRIDIZATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMALS
MESSENGER-RNA
METALS
NERVES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEI
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHOSPHORUS 32
PHOSPHORUS ISOTOPES
PROTEINS
RABBITS
RADIOISOTOPES
RNA
SPINAL CORD
TOXICITY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES