Learning, memory and the expression of cholinergic components in mice are modulated by the pesticide chlorpyrifos depending upon age at exposure and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype

• Polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene differentially affect neurobiological functions and cognitive performance and confer different vulnerabilities to subclinical exposures to chlorpyrifos (CPF), a pesticide used worldwide. The data reported on this topic suggest a complex interaction between cholinergic signaling and the APOE genotype. To gain greater functional insight into this interaction, we evaluated spatial learning and memory and hippocampal cholinergic expression in young apoE3 and apoE4 transgenic mice exposed to CPF. Male and female mice were exposed to CPF at 0 or 1 mg/kg on postnatal days 10-15 and then, exposed to CPF at 0 or 2 mg/kg for 60 days at 5 months of age. At 6 months of age, mice were tested for spatial skills in a Barnes maze. At the end of the task, animals were killed and gene expression of cholinergic components was assessed in the hippocampus. Our results show that apoE4 female mice performed worse in the spatial task, while postnatal CPF impaired escape strategies and spatial memory in apoE3 mice. In turn, CPF in adulthood improved spatial abilities in apoE4 female mice. Regarding gene expression, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) expression were increased in apoE4 mice. Postnatal exposure to CPF increased ChAT mRNA levels in apoE4 mice, whereas adult exposure to CPF induced changes in acetylcholinesterase-S, alpha 7- and alpha 4-subunit nicotinic receptor expression in apoE4 females. The current findings provide new insights into APOE-dependent cholinergic signaling, which directly affects the response to CPF cholinergic insult, especially in APOE4 subjects.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Farmakologi och toxikologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Pharmacology and Toxicology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Apolipoprotein E

Pesticide

Cholinergic system

Sex differences

Learning

Memory

nicotinic acetylcholine-receptors

pp swedish mice

targeted

replacement

epsilon-4 allele

transgenic mice

behavioral consequences

alzheimers-disease

postnatal exposure

oxidative stress

dietary

exposure

Toxicology

netics

v177

p126

rmany

v22

p545

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)