Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), 00161 Rome, RM, Italy.
Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20126 Milan, ML, Italy.
Nutrients. 2022 Aug 10;14(16):3269. doi: 10.3390/nu14163269.
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element required for normal development as well as to counteract the adverse effects of environmental stressors. Conditions of low Se intake are present in some European countries. Our aim was to investigate the short- and long-term effects of early-life low Se supply on behavior and synaptic plasticity with a focus on the hippocampus, considering both suboptimal Se intake per se and its interaction with developmental exposure to lead (Pb). We established an animal model of Se restriction and low Pb exposure; female rats fed with an optimal (0.15 mg/kg) or suboptimal (0.04 mg/kg) Se diet were exposed from one month pre-mating until the end of lactation to 12.5 µg/mL Pb via drinking water. In rat offspring, the assessment of motor, emotional, and cognitive endpoints at different life stages were complemented by the evaluation of the expression and synaptic distribution of NMDA and AMPA receptor subunits at post-natal day (PND) 23 and 70 in the hippocampus. Suboptimal Se intake delayed the achievement of developmental milestones and induced early and long-term alterations in motor and emotional abilities. Behavioral alterations were mirrored by a drop in the expression of the majority of NMDA and AMPA receptor subunits analyzed at PND 23. The suboptimal Se status co-occurring with Pb exposure induced a transient body weight increase and persistent anxiety-like behavior. From the molecular point of view, we observed hippocampal alterations in NMDA (Glun2B and GluN1) and AMPA receptor subunit trafficking to the post-synapse in male rats only. Our study provides evidence of potential Se interactions with Pb in the developing brain.
硒(Se)是正常发育所必需的微量元素,可抵抗环境应激源的不利影响。一些欧洲国家存在硒摄入量低的情况。我们的目的是研究生命早期低硒供应对行为和突触可塑性的短期和长期影响,重点关注海马体,同时考虑到硒摄入不足本身及其与发育性铅暴露的相互作用。我们建立了硒限制和低铅暴露的动物模型;用最佳(0.15 毫克/千克)或低(0.04 毫克/千克)硒饮食喂养的雌性大鼠从交配前一个月到哺乳期结束,通过饮用水暴露于 12.5µg/mL 的铅。在大鼠后代中,在不同生命阶段评估运动、情绪和认知终点,并在出生后第 23 天和第 70 天评估海马体中 NMDA 和 AMPA 受体亚基的表达和突触分布,以补充 NMDA 和 AMPA 受体亚基的表达和突触分布。低硒摄入延迟了发育里程碑的实现,并导致运动和情绪能力的早期和长期改变。行为改变与大多数在 PND23 分析的 NMDA 和 AMPA 受体亚基的表达下降相吻合。低硒状态与铅暴露同时发生会导致体重短暂增加和持续的焦虑样行为。从分子角度来看,我们仅在雄性大鼠中观察到海马体中 NMDA(Glun2B 和 GluN1)和 AMPA 受体亚基向突触后转运的改变。我们的研究提供了潜在的硒与发育中大脑中铅相互作用的证据。