The pharmacological perturbation of brain zinc impairs BDNF-related signaling and the cognitive performances of young mice.

ABSTRACT: Zinc (Zn²⁺) is a pleiotropic modulator of the neuronal and brain activity. The disruption of intraneuronal Zn²⁺ levels triggers neurotoxic processes and affects neuronal functioning. In this study, we investigated how the pharmacological modulation of brain Zn²⁺ affects synaptic plasticity and cognition in wild-type mice. To manipulate brain Zn²⁺ levels, we employed the Zn²⁺ (and copper) chelator 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinoline (clioquinol, CQ). CQ was administered for two weeks to 2.5-month-old (m.o.) mice, and effects studied on BDNF-related signaling, metalloproteinase activity as well as learning and memory performances. CQ treatment was found to negatively affect short- and long-term memory performances. The CQ-driven perturbat

SUBMITTER: Frazzini V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6021411 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature