Effects of exposure to lanthanum during perinatal period on CREB phosphorylation and BDNF expression in hippocampus of rats

ObjectiveTo study the effects of perinatal lanthanum exposure on cAMP response element binding protein phosphorylation (p-CREB) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and protein expression in the hippocampus of offspring rats.MethodsSixty female Wistar rats were divided randomly into control,low-,medium-,and high-dose lanthanum-treated group.Rats in lanthanum-treated groups were administrated with 0.25%,0.5%,and 1%lanthanum chloride(LaCl₃) in drinking water from day 0 of pregnancy to one month after weaning of the offspring,respectively.Then the p-CREB,BDNF mRNA and protein expression in the hippocampus were measured.ResultsCompared to the control group,hippocampal p-CREB protein expressions were 0.77±0.063,0.62±0.057 and 0.52±0.051;the BDNF mRNA expressions were 0.80±0.072,0.56±0.090,and 0.41±0.075 and the BDNF protein expressions were 0.67±0.065,0.59±0.064,and 0.51±0.045 for 0.25%,0.5%,and 1%lanthanum-treated offspring,respectively,with significant decreases(P<0.05).ConclusionPerinatal lanthanum exposure could decrease CREB phosphorylation and BDNF gene transcription and protein expression in the hippocampus of rats.