Abstract:

【Objective】 In order to observe the impact of low-level lead or/and cadmium and protective effect of N-Acetylcysteine in cortical neurons of neonatal SD rats, the cultured cortical neurons of neonatal rats were used to perform the toxicity test. 【Method】 Thirty-five adult female SD rats were divided into control group, lead acetate group (300 mg?L-1), lead acetate + NAC group (300 mg?L-1 + 20 mmol?L-1), cadmium chloride group (10 mg?L-1), cadmium chloride + NAC group (10 mg?L-1+20 mmol?L-1), group of lead and cadmium (300 mg?L-1 +10 mg?L-1), group of lead and cadmium + NAC (300 mg?L-1 +10 mg?L-1+ 20 mmol?L-1), and the additives were given in the drinking water. After gestational periods the expressions of bcl-2, Bax and c-fos mRNA in brain of neonatal rats were detected by real time fluorescent quantitative PCR. 【Result】 In comparison with the control group, there was a significant decrease in the expression of bcl-2 mRNA except for B group (P＜0.05), and the expression of Bax and c-fos mRNA appeared a significant increase (P＜0.05), especially F group. Compared NAC protective groups with the poisoning groups, the expression of bcl-2 mRNA increased to a certain extent (P＜0.05 or P＞0.05), but the expression of Bax and c-fos mRNA significantly decreased (P＜0.05). 【Conclusion】 The results showed that lead and cadmium appeared a synergetic effect, and it indicated that NAC could protect apoptosis of brain cells caused by exceptional gene expression from lead and/or cadmium in neonatal SD rats.

Key words: gestational period, combined lead and cadmium, real time fluorescent quantitation PCR, N-Acetylcysteine, synergetic effect