REGIONAL ALTERATIONS IN CALCIUM HOMEOSTASIS IN THE PRIMATE BRAIN FOLLOWING CHRONIC ALUMINUM EXPOSURE

The present study investigates the possible effects of chronic alumini um exposure on the various aspects of calcium homeostasis in the prima te central nervous system. Aluminium administration caused a marked de cline in the activity of Ca2+ ATPase in the monkey brain. The total ca lcium content was also significantly raised following aluminium exposu re. Concomittant to the increase in the calcium content, the levels of lipid peroxidation were also augmented in the aluminium treated anima ls, thereby further accentuating the aluminium induced neuronal damage . In addition, aluminium had an inhibitory effect on the depolarizatio n induced Ca-45(2+) uptake via the voltage operated channels. The resu lts presented herein, indicate that the toxic effects of aluminium cou ld be mediated through modifications in the intracellular calcium home ostasis with resultant altered neuronal function.