Effect of chronic aluminum exposure on neuron apoptosis and expression of P53 phosphorylation in rats

Abstract

To explore the role of P53 phosphorylation in neuron apoptosis of rats by chronic aluminum exposure. A total of male 40 SD rats were divided randomly into 4 groups (n = 10/dose), the exposed groups were fed with normal diet with different concentration of AlCl3 · 6H2O for 6 months respectively. The dosage of low, middle and high groups were 10.73, 107.33, 1073.33 mg/kg in sequence. The control group received normal diet. The neuron apoptosis was measured by method of Tunel. The expressions of P53 and pP53-ser15 protein in the cortex were detected by Western-blot. Tunel staining showed that the low, middle and high group rats had increased apoptosis rate than control group (P < 0.01). Western-blot test demonstrated that the expression of P53 protein in the cortex of high group rats were significantly higher than the control and low groups (P < 0.05). The expression of pP53-ser15 protein in the cortex of middle and high group rats were also higher than the control and low groups (P < 0.05). Chronic aluminum exposure can lead to over expression of P53 and pP53-ser15 protein in cerebral cortex, which maybe one of the most important mechanisms of neuron apoptosis induced by AlCl3.