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Cognitive deficits induced by melamine in rats
Lei An1, Zhanyong Li, Zhuo Yang
1College of Life Sciences and Key Lab of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, 300071, PR China.
Abstract:
Many studies reported that infants and animals were affected by food containing melamine, and the renal pathology was the main manifestation in intoxicated case. Our previous studies showed that melamine could impair hippocampal function and inhibited differentiated PC12 cell proliferation in vitro. The present study aimed to examine the effect on hippocampus and the possible mechanism induced by melamine in vivo. To address the hypothesis that melamine would impair the hippocampal function in vivo and then induce cognitive deficits, male Wistar rats were used to establish an animal model and melamine administered at a dose of 300 mgkg/day for 4 weeks. Morris water maze (MWM) test was employed to evaluate the learning and memory. The long term potentiation (LTP) from Schaffer collaterals to CA1 region in the hippocampus was recorded. The result of MWM test showed that there were significant deficits of learning and memory induced by melamine. LTP test presented that field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) slopes were significantly lower in melamine group compared to that in control group. In conclusion, melamine had a toxic influence on hippocampus, which induced the learning and memory deficits. It suggested that the potential mechanism was associated with impairments of synaptic plasticity.
Insights
Melamine exposure in rats impairs learning and memory by affecting hippocampal function. This study reveals melamine
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Melamine is known to cause renal pathology in intoxicated infants and animals.
- Previous research indicated melamine impairs hippocampal function and PC12 cell proliferation in vitro.
- The current study investigates melamine's in vivo effects on the hippocampus and its underlying mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the toxic effects of melamine on the hippocampus in vivo.
- To investigate the potential mechanism by which melamine induces cognitive deficits.
- To test the hypothesis that melamine impairs hippocampal function, leading to cognitive deficits.
Main Methods:
- An animal model was established using male Wistar rats.
- Melamine was administered at a dose of 300 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks.
- Learning and memory were evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM) test, and hippocampal synaptic plasticity was assessed via long-term potentiation (LTP) recording.
Main Results:
- The Morris water maze test revealed significant learning and memory deficits in rats exposed to melamine.
- Long-term potentiation recordings showed significantly lower field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) slopes in the melamine group compared to the control group.
- These findings indicate impaired synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.
Conclusions:
- Melamine exerts a toxic influence on the hippocampus, leading to deficits in learning and memory.
- The observed cognitive impairments are associated with disruptions in synaptic plasticity.
- Melamine's neurotoxicity warrants further investigation, particularly regarding its impact on cognitive functions.
