Central Nervous Effects of 3-Nitropropionic Acid and MK-801 Elicited by Acute Single and Combined Administration in Rats

Anita Lukács, Andrea Szabó, and Zsuzsanna Lengyel

Department of Public Health, University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine, Szeged, Hungary

Corresponding author: Anita Lukács
    Department of Public Health
    University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine
    Dóm tér 10
    H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
    Telephone: +36-62-545-119
    Fax number: +36-62-545-120
    E-mail: lukacsa@puhe.szote.u-szeged.hu

CEJOEM 2005, Vol.11. No.4.: 319–325


Key words:
3-nitropropionic acid, MK-801, behavioural alterations, rat


Abstract:
The mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), naturally present in some weeds and in mould-infested food, causes central nervous damage. The neurodegenerative effect of 3-NP can be antagonised by the NMDA channel blocker MK-801. In our experiments, male Wistar rats received, in groups of 10, 1 × 20 mg/kg 3-NP ip., 1 × 0.4 mg/kg MK-801 ip., or the same dose of 3-NP followed by MK-801 in 30 min. Open-field, acoustic startle response, and rota-rod tests were done before and 24 hours after the administration, the latter was followed by electrophysiological investigation. Compared to the controls, 3-NP and MK-801 caused significant hypo- and hyperactivity, respectively. The effect of the two substances on the number of noise-positive acoustic startle responses was similar but antagonism was seen in the combination group. The spontaneous cortical activity was slowed by MK-801. The results showed that the effect of 3-NP on the open field behaviour and the acoustic startle response was due to its influencing glutamatergic transmission.


Received: 5 December 2005
Accepted: 25 April 2006

| Back |