OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of aluminum (Al)-induced neurotoxicity by studying the effect of aluminum on lipid peroxidation in rat's brain and its sex related difference.

METHODSForty SD rats, both male and female, were exposed to aluminum through intraperitoneal injection of AlCl3 solution for 60 days at different dose. After exposure, the step down test was performed to examine the learning and memory abilities of rats, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in rat's cerebrum were detected by chemical method. The changes of ultrastructure in cortex were observed by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe differences between the changes of all indexes of female and male rats in the same dose-group wasn't statistically significant (P > 0.05). Compared with the rats in the control group, the learning and memory abilities of the Al-exposed rats were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The content of MDA was increased (P < 0.01) while the activity of SOD was decreased (P < 0.05). The membrane structure of neurons in cerebrum cortex of the Al-exposed rats were broken, dissolved and gone.

CONCLUSIONAluminum can accelerate lipid peroxidation in rat's brain, which may be one of the important intoxication mechanisms of aluminum. However, the sex-related difference of this effect have not yet been observed.