Abstract
A primary role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is regulation of cholinergic neurotransmission by hydrolysis of synaptic acetylcholine. In the developing nervous system, however, AChE also functions as a morphogenic factor to promote axonal growth. This raises the question of whether organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) that are known to selectively bind to and inactivate the enzymatic function of AChE also interfere with its morphogenic function to perturb axonogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we exposed primary cultures of sensory neurons derived from embryonic rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) to chlorpyrifos (CPF) or its oxon metabolite (CPFO). Both OPs significantly decreased axonal length at concentrations that had no effect on cell viability, protein synthesis or the enzymatic activity of AChE. Comparative analyses of the effects of CPF and CPFO on axonal growth in DRG neurons cultured from AChE nullizygous (AChE-/-) versus wild type (AChE+/+) mice indicated that while these OPs inhibited axonal growth in AChE+/+ DRG neurons, they had no effect on axonal growth in AChE-/- DRG neurons. However, transfection of AChE-/- DRG neurons with cDNA encoding full-length AChE restored the wild type response to the axon inhibitory effects of OPs. These data indicate that inhibition of axonal growth by OPs requires AChE, but the mechanism involves inhibition of the morphogenic rather than enzymatic activity of AChE. These findings suggest a novel mechanism for explaining not only the functional deficits observed in children and animals following developmental exposure to OPs, but also the increased vulnerability of the developing nervous system to OPs.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 32-41 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology |
| Volume | 228 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 1 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Acetylcholinesterase
- Axonal growth
- Chlorpyrifos
- Developmental neurotoxicity
- In vitro models
- Organophosphates
- Organophosphorus pesticides
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Cite this
Chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-oxon inhibit axonal growth by interfering with the morphogenic activity of acetylcholinesterase. / Yang, Dongren; Howard, Angela; Bruun, Donald; Ajua-Alemanj, Mispa; Pickart, Cecile; Lein, Pamela J.
In: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 228, No. 1, 01.04.2008, p. 32-41.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-oxon inhibit axonal growth by interfering with the morphogenic activity of acetylcholinesterase
AU - Yang, Dongren
AU - Howard, Angela
AU - Bruun, Donald
AU - Ajua-Alemanj, Mispa
AU - Pickart, Cecile
AU - Lein, Pamela J
PY - 2008/4/1
Y1 - 2008/4/1
N2 - A primary role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is regulation of cholinergic neurotransmission by hydrolysis of synaptic acetylcholine. In the developing nervous system, however, AChE also functions as a morphogenic factor to promote axonal growth. This raises the question of whether organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) that are known to selectively bind to and inactivate the enzymatic function of AChE also interfere with its morphogenic function to perturb axonogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we exposed primary cultures of sensory neurons derived from embryonic rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) to chlorpyrifos (CPF) or its oxon metabolite (CPFO). Both OPs significantly decreased axonal length at concentrations that had no effect on cell viability, protein synthesis or the enzymatic activity of AChE. Comparative analyses of the effects of CPF and CPFO on axonal growth in DRG neurons cultured from AChE nullizygous (AChE-/-) versus wild type (AChE+/+) mice indicated that while these OPs inhibited axonal growth in AChE+/+ DRG neurons, they had no effect on axonal growth in AChE-/- DRG neurons. However, transfection of AChE-/- DRG neurons with cDNA encoding full-length AChE restored the wild type response to the axon inhibitory effects of OPs. These data indicate that inhibition of axonal growth by OPs requires AChE, but the mechanism involves inhibition of the morphogenic rather than enzymatic activity of AChE. These findings suggest a novel mechanism for explaining not only the functional deficits observed in children and animals following developmental exposure to OPs, but also the increased vulnerability of the developing nervous system to OPs.
AB - A primary role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is regulation of cholinergic neurotransmission by hydrolysis of synaptic acetylcholine. In the developing nervous system, however, AChE also functions as a morphogenic factor to promote axonal growth. This raises the question of whether organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) that are known to selectively bind to and inactivate the enzymatic function of AChE also interfere with its morphogenic function to perturb axonogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we exposed primary cultures of sensory neurons derived from embryonic rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) to chlorpyrifos (CPF) or its oxon metabolite (CPFO). Both OPs significantly decreased axonal length at concentrations that had no effect on cell viability, protein synthesis or the enzymatic activity of AChE. Comparative analyses of the effects of CPF and CPFO on axonal growth in DRG neurons cultured from AChE nullizygous (AChE-/-) versus wild type (AChE+/+) mice indicated that while these OPs inhibited axonal growth in AChE+/+ DRG neurons, they had no effect on axonal growth in AChE-/- DRG neurons. However, transfection of AChE-/- DRG neurons with cDNA encoding full-length AChE restored the wild type response to the axon inhibitory effects of OPs. These data indicate that inhibition of axonal growth by OPs requires AChE, but the mechanism involves inhibition of the morphogenic rather than enzymatic activity of AChE. These findings suggest a novel mechanism for explaining not only the functional deficits observed in children and animals following developmental exposure to OPs, but also the increased vulnerability of the developing nervous system to OPs.
KW - Acetylcholinesterase
KW - Axonal growth
KW - Chlorpyrifos
KW - Developmental neurotoxicity
KW - In vitro models
KW - Organophosphates
KW - Organophosphorus pesticides
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=40849142446&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=40849142446&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.taap.2007.11.005
DO - 10.1016/j.taap.2007.11.005
M3 - Article
VL - 228
SP - 32
EP - 41
JO - Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
JF - Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
SN - 0041-008X
IS - 1
ER -