Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2012, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (25): 1939-1945.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2012.25.003

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Increased hippocampal Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1 expression in mice exposed prenatally to lead

Yuanyuan You1, Liguang Sun1, Bo Peng2, Yan Li3, Songbin Ben4, Shuang Gao5   

  1. 1 Department of Biochemical and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
    2 Outpatient Department of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
    3 Department of Biochemical and Molecular Biology, Jilin Medical College, Jilin 132013, Jilin Province, China
    4 School of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, Liaoning Province, China
    5 School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
  • Received:2012-05-30 Revised:2012-07-28 Online:2012-09-05 Published:2012-09-05
  • Contact: Liguang Sun, M.D., Professor, Department of Biochemical and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China ydslg@163.com
  • About author:Yuanyuan You★, Master, Department of Biochemical and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China

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Abstract:

Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1 is a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. Developmental lead exposure can cause neurological disorders similar to hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia and schizophrenia. In the present study, we examined the impact of developmental lead exposure, administered in vitro and in vivo, on hippocampal Disrupted-In- Schizophrenia 1 expression. Our results show that in cultured hippocampal neurons, in vitro exposure to 0.1–10 µM lead, inhibited neurite growth and increased Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1 mRNA and protein expression dose-dependently. In addition, blood lead levels in mice were increased with increasing mouse maternal lead (0.01–1 mM) exposure. Hippocampal neurons from these mice showed a concomitant increase in Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1 mRNA and protein expression. Overall our findings suggest that in vivo and in vitro lead exposure increases Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1 expression in hippocampal neurons dose-dependently, and consequently may influence synapse formation in newborn neurons.

Key words: lead exposure, Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1, hippocampus, neuron, neurotoxicity, synapse, neural regeneration