Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology
Published on: March 23, 2011
Aluminum alters NMDA receptor 1A and 2A/B expression on neonatal hippocampal neurons in rats
Chia-Yi Yuan1, Guoo-Shyng Wang Hsu, Yih-Jing Lee
1Department of Nutritional Science, Fu-Jen Catholic University, 510 Chung-Cheng Road, Hsinchuang, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Insights
High aluminum (Al) content in infant formula may impact neonatal brain development. This study found Al exposure increased neural cell viability but decreased key NMDAR expressions in developing neurons.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Elevated aluminum (Al) levels in infant formula pose potential risks to neonatal brain development.
- In vivo studies indicate significant Al accumulation in brain tissues following high oral intake.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of aluminum (Al) on neuronal gene expression and proliferation in an in vitro model.
- To assess Al's impact on hippocampal neuron development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cultured hippocampal neurons in an in vitro model.
- Assessed Al influence on neuronal gene expression via immunoblot and immunohistochemistry.
- Measured neural proliferation rates using MTT assay.
Main Results:
- Increased neurite outgrowth and neural cell viability with Al exposure (37, 74 μM AlCl3).
- Decreased protein expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) 1A and NMDAR 2A/B with increasing Al dosages (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Al exposure (37, 74 μM) for 14 days enhanced hippocampal neuron viability but reduced NMDAR 1A and NMDAR 2B expressions.
- Aluminum may negatively alter hippocampal neuron development in neonates.
Background:
High aluminum (Al) content in certain infant formula raises the concern of possible Al toxicity on brain development of neonates during their vulnerable period of growing. Results of in vivo study showed that Al content of brain tissues reached to 74 μM when oral intake up to 1110 μM, 10 times of that in the hi-Al infant formula.
Methods:
Utilizing a cultured neuron cells in vitro model, we have assessed Al influence on neuronal specific gene expression alteration by immunoblot and immunohistochemistry and neural proliferation rate changes by MTT assay.
Results:
Microscopic images showed that the neurite outgrowth of hippocampal neurons increased along with the Al dosages (37, 74 μM Al (AlCl3)). MTT results also indicated that Al increased neural cell viability. On the other hand, the immunocytochemistry staining suggested that the protein expressions of NMDAR 1A and NMDAR 2A/B decreased with the Al dosages (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Treated hippocampal neurons with 37 and 74 μM of Al for 14 days increased neural cell viability, but hampered NMDAR 1A and NMDAR 2A/B expressions. It was suggested that Al exposure might alter the development of hippocampal neurons in neonatal rats.
