Changed intelligence of rats with coal-burning fluorosis and its correlation with expression of brain ERK1/2 signal transduction

Objective To investigate the mipairment of learning and memory ability in rats with coal-buring fluorosis and itsm echanism.Methods The ratmodel of coal-burning fluorosisw as created by feeding the anmials with the cornpolluted by fluoride during corn-drying processe.The behavior changes of the rats were tested by Morris water maze test and ERK1/2 expression in brain tissue was assessed with Western blotting or real-time PCR.Results In Morris water maze test,the rats with fluorosis exhibited a longer escape latency,decreased spatial learning capacity and decreased numbers of crossing the platform compared to those of the controls(P < 0.05).Compared to the control,the increase in expression of phospho-Erk1/2 was observeda tprotein and mRNA level in the ratswith fluoride exposure,which had a correlation with the decreased capacity of learning and memory.Conclusion The fluorosis due to coal-burning pollution can induce declines of learning and memory ability in rats,in which the mechanism may be related to the activation of ERK 1/2 phosphory lation.