LEAD AMPLIFIES GLUTAMATE-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS

Lead markedly amplified L-glutamate-induced oxidative stress, that is, increased L-glutamate-induced production of reactive oxygen species, decreased cellular glutathione, and induced cytotoxicity in human neur oblastoma cells. It was notable that oxidative burst induced by L-glut amate alone was observed only when neuronal glutathione was depleted. A role of protein kinase C (PKC) in glutamate-induced production of re active oxygen species is likely because it was blocked by a PE;C inhib itor. We suggest here that, the mechanism whereby lead causes its neur otoxicity may be through the amplification of glutamate-induced oxidat ive stress, possibly through PKC activation.