Aluminium oxide nanoparticles compromise spatial learning and memory performance in rats
EXCLI Journal 2018;17:200-210 – ISSN 1611-2156
Received: December 20, 2017, accepted: February 10, 2018, published: February 14, 2018
Imen M’rad1*, Mustapha Jeljeli2, Naima Rihane1, Pascal Hilber3, Mohsen Sakly1, Salem Amara4
1 Laboratoire de Physiologie Intégrée, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Université de Carthage, Tunisie
2 Institut Supérieur des Sciences Humaines de Tunis, Université El Manar, Tunisie
3 Centre de recherche sur les fonctionnements et dysfonctionnements psychologiques CRFDP EA 7475, Université de Rouen Normandie, France
4 College of Education Afif, Ministry of Education Shaqra University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
* Corresponding author: Imen M’rad, Faculty of Science of Bizerte, Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Jarzouna 7021, Carthage University, Tunisia. Telephone: 0021650481303; Fax: 0021672590566; E-mail: mrad.amen@gmail.com
http://dx.doi.org/10.17179/excli2017-1050
ABSTRACT Recently, the biosafety and potential influences of nanoparticles on central nervous system have received more attention. In the present study, we assessed the effect of aluminium oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3-NPs) on spatial cognition. Male Wistar rats were intravenously administered Al2O3-NP suspension (20 mg/kg body weight/day) for four consecutive days, after which they were assessed. The results indicated that Al2O3-NPs impaired spatial learning and memory ability. An increment in malondialdehyde levels with a concomitant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity confirmed the induction of oxidative stress in the hippocampus. Additionally, our findings showed that exposure to Al2O3-NPs resulted in decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in the hippocampus. Fur-thermore, Al2O3-NPs enhanced aluminium (Al) accumulation and disrupted mineral element homoeostasis in the hippocampus. However, they did not change the morphology of the hippocampus. Our results show a connection among oxidative stress, disruption of mineral element homoeostasis, and Al accumulation in the hippocampus, which leads to spatial memory deficit in rats treated with Al2O3-NPs.
Keywords: Aluminium oxide nanoparticle, hippocampus, oxidative response, spatial memory
