ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of P53 phosphorylation in neuron apoptosis of rats by chronic aluminum exposure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of male 40 SD rats were divided randomly into 4 groups (n = 10/dose), the exposed groups were fed with normal diet with different concentration of AlCl3 · 6H2O for 6 months respectively. The dosage of low, middle and high groups were 10.73, 107.33, 1073.33 mg/kg in sequence. The control group received normal diet. The neuron apoptosis was measured by method of Tunel. The expressions of P53 and pP53-ser15 protein in the cortex were detected by Western-blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Tunel staining showed that the low, middle and high group rats had increased apoptosis rate than control group (P < 0.01). Western-blot test demonstrated that the expression of P53 protein in the cortex of high group rats were significantly higher than the control and low groups (P < 0.05). The expression of pP53-ser15 protein in the cortex of middle and high group rats were also higher than the control and low groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chronic aluminum exposure can lead to over expression of P53 and pP53-ser15 protein in cerebral cortex, which maybe one of the most important mechanisms of neuron apoptosis induced by AlCl3.</p>