ACRYLAMIDE ALTERS NEUROFILAMENT PROTEIN GENE-EXPRESSION IN RAT-BRAIN

Acrylamide, a prototype neurotoxin, alters neurofilament protein (NF) gene expression in rat brain. Levels of mRNA coding for neurofilament protein subunits NF-L, NF-M, and NF-H have been determined by Northern blot analysis using P-32-labeled cDNA probes. Acrylamide given acutel y (100 mg/kg, single intraperitoneal injection) causes a selective inc rease in NF-M mRNA (approximately 50%) compared to controls. The expre ssion of NF-L or NF-H mRNA is not affected by acrylamide. Tn contrast, chronic treatment with acrylamide [0.03% (w/v) in drinking water for 4 weeks] induces a modest but significant increase (approximately 22%) in NF-L mRNA compared to controls. Levels of NF-M, and NF-H mRNA are not altered by acrylamide treatment. The expression of beta-actin mRNA , an ubiquitous protein, is nor affected by either treatment regimen o f acrylamide. The results of this study show that acrylamide increases the expression of mRNA for NF protein subunits in rat brain. The incr ease of specific mRNA for NF subunits depends on the dose, duration an d route of acrylamide administration.