Developmental profiles of ornithine decarboxylase activity in the hippocampus, neocortex and cerebellum: Modulation following lead exposure

N. H. Zawia, L. B. Evers, G. J. Harry*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a growth-associated enzyme which is critical for cell growth and transformation. ODC activity follows a specific ontogenetic pattern of activity in distinct brain regions according to their developmental stage. Perturbations in the pattern of ODC activity have been associated with brain damage including arrested cerebral growth. Modulations in the pattern of ODC activity were examined in the hippocampus, neocortex and cerebellum of neonatal rats (PND 3, 6, 9, 15) exposed via the dam to 0.2% lead-acetate (Pb2+ prenatally (gestational day 13 to birth), postnatally (PND 1-15) or perinatally (gestational day 13 to PND 15). Prenatal exposure to Pb2+ perturbed the profile of ODC activity in all three brain regions examined, while postnatal exposure to Pb2+ resulted in prolonged stimulations of ODC activity in the cerebellum. Following prenatal exposure, these effects were manifested as a stimulation of ODC activity in the hippocampus, a repression of activity in the neocortex and a combination of these effects in the cerebellum. Perinatal exposure to Pb2+ transiently modulated the pattern of ODC activity similarly in all three brain regions, in a characteristic manner irrespective of their developmental stage. These Pb2+-induced modulations of ODC activity suggest that polyamine-dependent processes may play a significant role in the manifestation of Pb2+-induced neurotoxicity dependent upon developmental factors at specific exposure periods.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25-30
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Developmental Neuroscience
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 1994
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • ODC
  • Pb
  • cerebellum
  • development
  • hippocampus
  • neocortex

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