OBJECTIVETo explore effects of acrylamide on synaptic plasticity of rat neuron and its mechanisms.

METHODS24 Wistar rats were divided into control and test groups randomly, 12 rats in each group. The ratio of male and female in each group was 1:1. Acrylamide (30 mg/kg) was administered to rats by intraperitoneal injection in test group and normal saline (5 g/kg) was given to rats in control group. The neurobehavioral and pathologic changes of heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney were observed. Changes of parameters in synapse were recorded by electron microscope. As an important target of synapse, change of Synapsin I was measured by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSCompared with the control group (male: 1.00 ± 0.00; female: 1.00 ± 0.00), the gait score was increased significantly in ACR treated group (male: 2.50 ± 0.55, t = -7.24, P < 0.01; female: 3.17 ± 0.41, t = -12.19, P < 0.01). No obvious pathological changes of heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney were found in all rats. Compared with the control group (male: (0.41 ± 0.09) µm; female: (0.40 ± 0.06) µm), the length of active zone of synapse was decreased significantly in ACR treated group (male: (0.15 ± 0.05) µm, t = 6.59, P < 0.05; female: (0.14 ± 0.07) µm, t = 7.26, P < 0.05). The width and postsynaptic density of synapse in ACR treated group had no significant difference with control group. The location of Synapsin I of control group and ACR treated group was both in gray matter of spinal dorsal horn. Compared with the control group (male: 195.40 ± 12.30; female: 195.19 ± 6.71), the concentration of Synapsin I was decreased significantly in ACR treated group (male: 60.90 ± 29.19, t = 10.40, P < 0.05; female: 67.56 ± 20.23, t = 15.65, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNeuronal synaptic plasticity was found in damage of nervous system induced by acrylamide in rats, which might be associated with the expression of Synapsin I.