alpha-synuclein and avermectin

Avermectins (AVMs) are used worldwide in agriculture and veterinary medicine. Residues of avermectin drugs, causing toxicological effects on non-target organisms, have raised great concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AVM on the expression levels of alpha synuclein (α-Syn) and proteasomal activity in pigeon (Columba livia) neurons both in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that, the mRNA and protein levels of α-Syn increased in AVM treated groups relative to control groups in the cerebrum, cerebellum and optic lobe in vivo. Dose-dependent decreases in the proteasomal activity (i.e., chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like and peptidylglutamyl peptidehydrolase) were observed both in vivo and in vitro. The results suggested that AVM could induce the expression levels of α-Syn and inhibit the normal physiological function of proteasome in brain tissues and neurons. The information presented in this study is helpful to understand the mechanism of AVM-induced neurotoxicology in birds.

Topics: alpha-Synuclein; Animals; Brain; Cells, Cultured; China; Columbidae; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Ivermectin; Neurons; Primary Cell Culture; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; RNA, Messenger