RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the effects of copper and zinc on the activity of cytochrome oxidase(COX)in neurons of rats and go further into the effect on energy metabolism of neurons.Methods After separate culturing of primary neurons and glial cells of the cortex of postnatal rats,neurons were treated with cupric sulphate at0,0.05,0.16,0.5mmol /L,zinc acetate at0,0.05,0.16,0.5mmol /L independently,and copper-zinc3?3pattern.Activi-ty of cytochrome oxidase was assessed with cytochemical method and imaging quantitative analysis.Results When neurons were treated with cupric sulphate at0.16?0.5mmol /L independently,COX activities in experimental groups significantly decreased compared with that in the control group,but there was no significant difference between the other groups treated with cupric sulphate or zinc acetate and the control group.When neurons were treated with copper com-bined with zinc,interaction on activity of COX showed no significance.Conclusion Copper could down-regulate and damage the activity of COX significanty,which was the most crucial energy metabolism enzyme,but combinning expo-sure of copper and zinc did not show significant interaction at the used levels.