Effects of methylmarcury acute exposure on c-fos mRNA expression in brain of rat

  Objective   To study the role that immediate early expression gene(IEG)c fos played in the neurotox ic mech anism, and the effect of methylmarcury(MMC)on c fos mRNAexpression were invest igated.

  Methods   RTPCRwas used for c fos mRNAex pression after MM Cacute exposure in rats brain.The control group was physiological saline of 0.9%, the concentration of exposure groups were 0.05, 0.5 and 5 mg/kg respectively, the sampling time were 20, 60, 240 and 1 440 min.

  Results   The 0.05 mg/kg group induced the ex pression of c fos obviously in rat s brain afterex posed for 60min while the 0.5 mg/kg group induced the expression of c fos clearly in rats brain afterexposed for 20min, and the expressive quantity of c fos mRNAdid notheave direct ratio with the concentration of mer cury.

  Conclusion   The ex pression of c fos mRNA played an important part in the neurotoxic mechanism of MM C; IEGc fos took part in the process that MM Cimpaired the nerve system.