[Effect of formaldehyde on energy metabolism in postnatal rat cortex neurons in culture].

OBJECTIVE

The mechanism of the effect of formaldehyde on CNS which is much concerned to formaldehyde poisoning was studied.

METHODS

In the present study, incubation of postnatal rat cortex neurons in culture with formaldehyde at 1, 2, 4, 8 mg/L (medium) was carried out to evaluate the effect of formaldehyde on energy metabolism.

RESULTS

The result of cytochemistry showed a significant down-regulation of cytochrome oxidase activity after consecutive formaldehyde treatment for 4 hours compared with the control (P < 0.01), the significant dosage-response relationship was also observed (R value is - 0.92, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The result demonstrates that excessive exposure of formaldehyde can decrease cytochrome oxidase activity in cortex neurons which indicates energy metabolism will be decreased and therefore normal physiology function would be damaged.