Alterations of microtubule and microfilament expression in spinal cord of carbon disulfide intoxicated rats / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether the alterations of microtubule and microfilament expression are responsible for the neurotoxicity of carbon disulfide.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were administered with carbon disulfide by gavage at a dosage of 300 or 500 mg/kg for continuous 12 weeks (five times per week). Spinal cords of carbon disulfide-intoxicated rats and their age-matched controls were Triton-extracted and ultracentrifuged to yield a pellet and a corresponding supernatant fraction. Then, the contents of alpha-tubulin, beta-tubulin, and beta-actin in both fractions were determined by immunoblotting. In the meantime, their mRNA levels in spinal cords were quantified using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the supernatant fraction, the contents of beta-tubulin and beta-actin in both treated groups increased significantly (P < 0.01) the content of beta-tubulin increased by 141% and 158% respectively, and the content of beta-actin increased by 19% and 32% respectively. In the pellet fraction, the content of beta-tubulin in both groups increased by 107%(P < 0.01) and 118%(P < 0.01) respectively, and the others keep unaffected. In the meantime, the levels of of mRNA expression of beta-tubulin and beta-actin gene were elevated consistently in CS(2)-treated groups (P < 0.01) the levels of mRNA expression of beta-tubulin increased by 207% and 212% respectively, and the levels of mRNA expression of beta-actin increased by 94% and 91% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Carbon disulfide intoxication results in alternations of microtubule and microfilament expression, and the alternations might be related to its neurotoxicity.</p>