AAS ›› 2015, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (6): 729-736.doi: 10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2015.06.002

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Synapse loss in visual cortex of mouse after prenatal nitrite exposure

LI Rui-ling CHEN Yong-fang WANG Ying DONG Hong-jing SHI Shu-qin DENG Jin-bo*DENG Jie-xin*   

  1. Institute of Neurobiology, School of Nursing, He’nan University, He’nan Kaifeng 475004, China
  • Received:2015-01-28 Revised:2015-05-28 Online:2015-12-06 Published:2015-12-06
  • Contact: DENG Jin-bo;DENG Jie-xin E-mail:kflrl66@163.com

Abstract:

Objective To understand the nitrite’s toxicity to the quantitative alternations of synapses and explore its possible mechanism in mouse visual cortex using prenatal nitrite exposure(PNE) models. Methods The pregnant dams were exposure to nitrite from E0 (embryonic day 0) to parturition and divided into control group, moderate dose group (60mg/kg) and high dose groups (120mg/kg). Pups with different treatments at P0, P7, P14 and P30 were harvested. Synaptophysin expression and γ-synucein expression in visual cortex were visualized with immunocytochemistry technique and Western blotting. Synaptophysin positive puncta and γ-synuclein positive neurons were measured, and their correlation was tested with statistical analysis. Results The pups’learning and memory reduced after nitrite exposure. The synaptophysin positive buttons reduced after prenatal nitrate exposure with dose dependency (P<0.05), and the γ-synuclein positive cells increased with dose dependency (P<0.05) as well. There was negative correlation between synaptophysin expression and γ-synuclein expression. Western blotting supported the results from immunofluorescent labeling. Conclusion Prenatal nitrite exposure can induce the synapse loss with dose dependency and long-term effect, and the abnormal aggregation of γ-synuclein may contribute to the synaptic loss.

Key words: Prenatal nitrite exposure, Synapse, γ-synuclein,  , Visual cortex,  , Western blotting, Mouse