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Zinc and Copper Brain Levels and Expression of Neurotransmitter Receptors in Two Rat ASD Models

Zinc and copper are important trace elements necessary for the proper functioning of neurons. Impaired zinc and/or copper metabolism and signaling are implicated in many brain diseases, including autism (ASD). In our studies, autistic-like behavior in rat offsprings was induced by application to pre...

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Autores principales: Zieminska, Elzbieta, Ruszczynska, Anna, Augustyniak, Justyna, Toczylowska, Beata, Lazarewicz, Jerzy W.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8277171/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34267627
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2021.656740
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author Zieminska, Elzbieta
Ruszczynska, Anna
Augustyniak, Justyna
Toczylowska, Beata
Lazarewicz, Jerzy W.
author_facet Zieminska, Elzbieta
Ruszczynska, Anna
Augustyniak, Justyna
Toczylowska, Beata
Lazarewicz, Jerzy W.
author_sort Zieminska, Elzbieta
collection PubMed
description Zinc and copper are important trace elements necessary for the proper functioning of neurons. Impaired zinc and/or copper metabolism and signaling are implicated in many brain diseases, including autism (ASD). In our studies, autistic-like behavior in rat offsprings was induced by application to pregnant mothers valproic acid or thalidomide. Zinc and copper contents were measured in serum and brain structures: hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum. Our research shows no interconnections in the particular metal concentrations measured in autistic animal brains and their sera. Based on patient researches, we studied 26 genes belonging to disturbed neurotransmitter pathways. In the same brain regions, we examined the expression of genes encoding proteins of cholinergic, adrenergic, serotonin, and dopamine receptors. In both rats’ ASD models, 17 out of the tested gene expression were decreased. In the cerebellum and cerebral cortex, expression of genes encoding cholinergic, adrenergic, and dopaminergic receptors decreased, whereas in the hippocampus only expression of serotoninergic receptors genes was downregulated. The changes in metals content observed in the rat brain can be secondary phenomena, perhaps elements of mechanisms that compensate for neurotransmission dysfunctions.
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spelling pubmed-82771712021-07-14 Zinc and Copper Brain Levels and Expression of Neurotransmitter Receptors in Two Rat ASD Models Zieminska, Elzbieta Ruszczynska, Anna Augustyniak, Justyna Toczylowska, Beata Lazarewicz, Jerzy W. Front Mol Neurosci Neuroscience Zinc and copper are important trace elements necessary for the proper functioning of neurons. Impaired zinc and/or copper metabolism and signaling are implicated in many brain diseases, including autism (ASD). In our studies, autistic-like behavior in rat offsprings was induced by application to pregnant mothers valproic acid or thalidomide. Zinc and copper contents were measured in serum and brain structures: hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum. Our research shows no interconnections in the particular metal concentrations measured in autistic animal brains and their sera. Based on patient researches, we studied 26 genes belonging to disturbed neurotransmitter pathways. In the same brain regions, we examined the expression of genes encoding proteins of cholinergic, adrenergic, serotonin, and dopamine receptors. In both rats’ ASD models, 17 out of the tested gene expression were decreased. In the cerebellum and cerebral cortex, expression of genes encoding cholinergic, adrenergic, and dopaminergic receptors decreased, whereas in the hippocampus only expression of serotoninergic receptors genes was downregulated. The changes in metals content observed in the rat brain can be secondary phenomena, perhaps elements of mechanisms that compensate for neurotransmission dysfunctions. Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-06-29 /pmc/articles/PMC8277171/ /pubmed/34267627 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2021.656740 Text en Copyright © 2021 Zieminska, Ruszczynska, Augustyniak, Toczylowska and Lazarewicz. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
spellingShingle Neuroscience
Zieminska, Elzbieta
Ruszczynska, Anna
Augustyniak, Justyna
Toczylowska, Beata
Lazarewicz, Jerzy W.
Zinc and Copper Brain Levels and Expression of Neurotransmitter Receptors in Two Rat ASD Models
title Zinc and Copper Brain Levels and Expression of Neurotransmitter Receptors in Two Rat ASD Models
title_full Zinc and Copper Brain Levels and Expression of Neurotransmitter Receptors in Two Rat ASD Models
title_fullStr Zinc and Copper Brain Levels and Expression of Neurotransmitter Receptors in Two Rat ASD Models
title_full_unstemmed Zinc and Copper Brain Levels and Expression of Neurotransmitter Receptors in Two Rat ASD Models
title_short Zinc and Copper Brain Levels and Expression of Neurotransmitter Receptors in Two Rat ASD Models
title_sort zinc and copper brain levels and expression of neurotransmitter receptors in two rat asd models
topic Neuroscience
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8277171/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34267627
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2021.656740
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