• Changes in motor performance and NMDA gene expression in the cerebellum of male rats during copper toxicity and treatment with vitamin C
  • Zahra Nobakht Mobaraki,1,* Homeira Hatami Nemati,2 Nazli Khajehnasiri,3
    1. Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
    2. Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
    3. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Higher Education Institute of Rab-Rashid, Tabriz, Iran.


  • Introduction: Copper is an essential transition metal serving as an important cofactor for various enzymatic reactions and physiological activities. However, excess amounts of copper cause neurological abnormalities. There is evidence about up regulation of NMDA receptor expression and cell damage. We analyze the motor activity and changes in NMDA gene expression during neurotoxicity process of copper sulfate and evaluate the results of treatments using vitamin C in the cerebellum of male rats.
  • Methods: In this experimental study, 18 male Wister rats (250-300 gr) were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 (n=6 in each). Control (normal saline), copper sulfate (10 mg/kg; i.p), copper sulfate + vitamin C (80mg/kg; i.p) for 10 days. On days 1, 5 and 10, coordination of rats' movements was assessed using the rotarod test 20 minutes after injection. After receiving treatments, the animals were decapitated and their cerebellum were removed and the expression of NMDA gene assayed using RT-PCR Technique. One-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey test were used for data analyzing.
  • Results: Data analysis showed that the mean duration of resistance and remaining on the rotarod wheel in copper sulfate group was not significantly different from the control group (p> 0.05). While the mean duration significantly decreased for the group of copper sulfate and vitamin C compared to the control group (p <0.001). The expression level of NMDA gene in copper sulfate and vitamin C group was not significantly different from the control group (p> 0.05). The expression level of NMDA gene in copper sulfate group had a great rise compared to the control group (p <0.001).
  • Conclusion: Copper overload disturbed neuromuscular coordination. Also we think that the NMDA receptor may play a role in cerebellar injury caused by copper overload.
  • Keywords: Copper toxicity, vit C, NMDA gene expression, locomotor activity, rotarod test.