Effect of postweaning chronic aluminum exposure on long-term potentiation and intracellular Ca2+ concentration in hippocampus of rats

Objective To explore the effect of aluminium on longterm potentiation(LTP)in hippo campal CA1 area and intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration in postweaning rats.Methods Postweaning Wistar rats were administered with aluminium chlor ide in water at the doses of 0.2% and 0.6% for 80-90 days.A tomic absorption spectrometry(AAS)was used to detect the content of a luminium in blood and brain.The technique of extrace llula relec trophy siolo gicaltest was used to record LTP in hippocampal CA1 area and Fura 2/AM calciumions fluo rescence indicator was used to measure in trace llular Ca²⁺ concen tration in hippocampal cells.Results The contents of alum inium in blood and brain of a luminium exposed rats were rem arkably higher than that of the control group.The population spike(PS)of LTP in hippo campalCA1 area and the intrace llular Ca²⁺ concentration were significantly reduced in aluminium exposed groups.Conclusion Aluminium can impair the induction and maintenance of LTP in hippo campal CA1 area,and the impairmentm aybe results from the reduction of intrace llular Ca²⁺ concen tration.