Related Experiment Video For Brain
Updated: Jan 23, 2026
Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in the Rat Hippocampus After Deep Brain Stimulation of the Anterior Thalamic Nucleus
Published on: March 8, 2015
Long-term exposure to fluoride as a factor promoting changes in the expression and activity of cyclooxygenases (COX1
Karolina Dec1, Agnieszka Łukomska2, Karolina Skonieczna-Żydecka1
1The Department of Biochemistry and Human Nutrition, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Broniewskiego 24 Str., 70-460 Szczecin, Poland.
Background:
Sixty percent of the mammalian brain is composed of lipids including arachidonic acid (AA). AA released from cell membranes is metabolised in the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway to prostanoids - biologically active substances involved in the regulation of many processes including inflammation. It has been shown that long-term exposure to fluoride in pre and neonatal period is dangerous because this element is able to penetrate through the placenta and to cross the blood-brain barrier. Exposure to fluoride during the development affects metabolism and physiology of neurons and glia which results in the impairment of cognitive functions but the exact mechanisms of fluoride neurotoxicity are not clearly defined.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to determine whether exposure to fluoride during the development affects COXes activity and the synthesis of prostanoids.
Material And Methods:
Pre- and postnatal toxicity model in Wistar rats was used. Experimental animals received 50 mg/L of NaF in drinking water ad libitum, while control animals received tap water. In cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and striatum were measured fluoride concentration, COX1 and COX2 genes expression, immunolocalization of the enzymatic proteins and concentration of PGE2 and TXB2.
Results:
of this study showed statistically significant changes in the concentration of fluoride in brain structures between study group and control animals. Moreover, significant changes in the expression level of COX1 and COX2, and in the concentration of PGE2 and TXB2 were observed.
Conclusion:
Exposure to fluoride in the prenatal and neonatal period result in the increase in COX2 activity and increase in PGE2 concentration in rats brain, which may lead to disturbances in central nervous system homeostasis..
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