The Effect Of Lead On Astroglial Glutamate Uptake
Abstract
Low-level lead has been shown to cause cognitive and attention deficits in children. Research has focused on elucidating the underlying molecular and biochemical mechanisms of these abnormalities. In recent years, the importance of astroglia in neurological diseases has been realized and they are no longer merely considered passive cells. Because astroglia have previously been shown to sequester lead, this study examined the effects of lead on an important astroglial function: glutamate uptake. In immature astroglia treated with lead for 1 and 7 days, glutamate uptake at 10 minutes was increased beyond control levels. However, mature astroglia treated with lead for 14 days showed an initial increase in glutamate uptake at 5 minutes, then a decrease in uptake at 10 minutes. Overall, the change in glutamate uptake varied with age in culture. Further studies are warranted in order to determine areas of Pb insult and possible recovery mechanisms.
Description
Program year: 1995/1996Digitized from print original stored in HDR
Citation
Stevenson, Rebekah (1996). The Effect Of Lead On Astroglial Glutamate Uptake. University Undergraduate Research Fellow. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /CAPSTONE -StevensonR _1996.