Nigrostriatal modifications after vanadium inhalation: an immunocytochemical and cytological approach

Neurochem Res. 2004 Jul;29(7):1365-9. doi: 10.1023/b:nere.0000026398.86113.7d.

Abstract

Vanadium (V) has increased in the air as a component of suspended particles originated from fuel combustion. In this report, a model of inhaled V in mice was implemented to identify the effect that V has in the corpus striatum and substantia nigra, structures with high concentrations of dopamine and scarce antioxidants burden. Mice inhaled 0.02 M V2O5 1 h twice a week and were sacrificed at points from 1 to 8 weeks after inhalation, perfused, and processed for Golgi method and for tyroxine hidroxylase (TH) inmunocytochemistry. Cytological analysis consisted in counting the number of dendritic spines in 20 medium-size spiny neurons and the number of TH immunoreactive neurons in the substatia nigra pars compacta. Dendritic spine density decreased drastically after V exposure; the same was observed with the TH-positive neurons, which decreased in a time-dependent mode. No previous morphological studies about V and nervous system have been reported. The decrease in spine density and in TH-positive neurons might have functional repercussions that should be studied because the trend of this element in the atmosphere is to increase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Animals
  • Corpus Striatum / drug effects
  • Corpus Striatum / pathology*
  • Dendrites / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurotoxins / administration & dosage
  • Neurotoxins / pharmacokinetics
  • Neurotoxins / toxicity
  • Substantia Nigra / drug effects
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology*
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism
  • Vanadium / administration & dosage
  • Vanadium / pharmacokinetics
  • Vanadium / toxicity*

Substances

  • Neurotoxins
  • Vanadium
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase