Neurochemical Research

, Volume 19, Issue 7, pp 815–820 | Cite as

Acrylamide alters neurofilament protein gene expression in rat brain

  • Hidetoshi Endo
  • Smita Kittur
  • Mohammad I. Sabri
Original Articles
Accepted:

Abstract

Acrylamide, a prototype neurotoxin, alters neurofilament protein (NF) gene expression in rat brain. Levels of mRNA coding for neurofilament protein subunits NF-L, NF-M, and NF-H have been determined by Northern blot analysis using32P-labeled cDNA probes. Acrylamide given acutely (100 mg/kg, single intraperitoneal injection) causes a selective increase in NF-M mRNA (approximately 50%) compared to controls. The expression of NF-L or NF-H mRNA is not affected by acrylamide. In contrast, chronic treatment with acrylamide [0.03% (w/v) in drinking water for 4 weeks] induces a modest but significant increase (approximately 22%) in NF-L mRNA compared to controls. Levels of NF-M, and NF-H mRNA are not altered by acrylamide treatment. The expression of β-actin mRNA, an ubiquitous protein, is not affected by either treatment regimen of acrylamide. The results of this study show that acrylamide increases the expression of mRNA for NF protein subunits in rat brain. The increase of specific mRNA for NF subunits depends on the dose, duration and route of acrylamide administration.

Key Words

Acrylamide neurofilament neurotoxicity cytoskeleton 
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Copyright information

© Plenum Publishing Corporation 1994

Authors and Affiliations

  • Hidetoshi Endo
    • 1
  • Smita Kittur
    • 1
  • Mohammad I. Sabri
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.Gerontology Research Center, NIANIHBaltimore
  2. 2.Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, L606Oregon Health Sciences UniversityPortland

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