Effects of Nano-MnO2 on Dopaminergic Neurons and the Spatial Learning Capability of Rats

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Tao Li¹  Tingting Shi²  Xiaobo Li¹  Shuilin Zeng²  Lihong Yin¹ 

[1] Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; E-Mails:;Institute of Neurobiology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; E-Mails:

关键词: nano-MnO₂;    Morris water maze;    dopaminergic neurons;    glial fibrillary acidic protein;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph110807918

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

This study aimed to observe the effect of intracerebrally injected nano-MnO₂ on neurobehavior and the functions of dopaminergic neurons and astrocytes. Nano-MnO₂, 6-OHDA, and saline (control) were injected in the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area of Sprague-Dawley rat brains. The neurobehavior of rats was evaluated by Morris water maze test. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expressions in rat brain were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results showed that the escape latencies of nano-MnO₂ treated rat increased significantly compared with control. The number of TH-positive cells decreased, GFAP- and iNOS-positive cells increased significantly in the lesion side of the rat brains compared with the contralateral area in nano-MnO₂ group. The same tendencies were observed in nano-MnO₂-injected rat brains compared with control. However, in the the positive control, 6-OHDA group, escape latencies increased, TH-positive cell number decreased significantly compared with nano-MnO₂ group. The alteration of spatial learning abilities of rats induced by nano-MnO₂ may be associated with dopaminergic neuronal dysfunction and astrocyte activation.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.