Expression of amino acid neurotransmitters and their receptors in the brain of IUGR rats / 国际儿科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expression of excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate (Glu),inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA),glutamate receptor R1 (GluR1) and gammaaminobutyric acid receptor A (γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor,GABAA) in the brain of rats with intrauterine growth retardation.Methods Thirty-two healthy Wistar female virgin rats and eight healthy Wistar male rats were purchased from the Laboratory Animal Center of China Medical University.The pregnant rats were randomly divided into IUGR group and control group according to the order of conception.The control group was fed with normal diet,while the IUGR group was fed with low-protein diet.The offspring were named IUGR group and control group respectively.The expressions of positive cells of Glu,GluR1,GABA and GABAA in cerebral cortex of normal offspring and IUGR offspring were observed by immunohistochemistry.Results Immunohistochemical staining showed that the glutamate positive field of vision in IUGR group was more than that in control group (x2 =82.69,P ＜ 0.05).The glutamate receptor GluR1 positive field of vision in IUGR group was more than that in control group (x2 =76.91,P ＜0.05),while the gamma-aminobutyric acid and its receptors in IUGR group were lower than those in control group (x2 =91.51,x2 =24.05,respectively).The difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Intrauterine growth retardation can increase the expression of excitatory amino acids and receptors while decrease the expression of inhibitory amino acids and their receptors.Increased expression of excitatory amino acids and receptors and decreased expression of inhibitory amino acids and their receptors may be one of the mechanisms of epilepsy in patients with intrauterine growth retardation.