Objective: To study the effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on contents of glutamate and activity of protein kinase C (PKC) and A (PKA) and ultrastructure injury in the brain of male mice and to explore the mechanism of neurotoxicity and patho-alteration resulted from PFOS.
Methods: 44 male mice were randomly divided into four groups, who were respectively orally given 0, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg PFOS for 10 days. The Glu consents in the brain of the mice was measured with spectrophotometer and protein kinases activity were measured with non-radioactive assay of protein kinase and the changes of cerebral cortex ultrastructure were observed.
Results: Contents of Glu in 10 and 20 mg/kg groups were (1.57 +/- 0.11) and (1.62 +/- 0.16) mmol/g prot respectively,which was significantly increased compared with the corresponding controlled group [(1.45 +/- 0.13) mmol/g prot] (F = 39.59, P < 0.05). PKC activity in 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg BW groups were (29.05 +/- 2.89), (33.65 +/- 3.82) and (34.20 +/- 3.16) pmol x min(-1) x (mg prot)-1 respectively, which was significantly increased compared with the corresponding control group [(24.53 +/- 2.88) pmol x min(-1) x (mg prot)-1] (F = 7.75, P < 0.05). Compared with the corresponding control group, PKA in 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg BW groups increased by (24.12 +/- 3.86)%, (34.02 +/- 3.04)% and (33.42 +/- 3.71)% with a statistical significance (F = 26.27, P < 0.01). The exposed mice had cerebral cortex ultrastructure injury of cell nucleus envelope hollow.
Conclusion: Exposure to PFOS increases Glu contents and activity of PKC and PKA in mouse brain and induce the cerebral cortex ultrastructural injury, a possible mechanism of the neurotoxicity caused by PFOS.