Structure–Function Correlation in Cobalt-Induced Brain Toxicity

Cobalt toxicity is difficult to detect and therefore often underdiagnosed. The aim of this study was to explore the pathophysiology of cobalt-induced oxidative stress in the brain and its impact on structure and function. Thirty-five wild-type C57B16 mice received intraperitoneal cobalt chloride inj...

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Main Authors: Basel Obied, Stephen Richard, Alon Zahavi, Dror Fixler, Olga Girshevitz, Nitza Goldenberg-Cohen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/21/1765
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author Basel Obied
Stephen Richard
Alon Zahavi
Dror Fixler
Olga Girshevitz
Nitza Goldenberg-Cohen
author_facet Basel Obied
Stephen Richard
Alon Zahavi
Dror Fixler
Olga Girshevitz
Nitza Goldenberg-Cohen
author_sort Basel Obied
collection DOAJ
description Cobalt toxicity is difficult to detect and therefore often underdiagnosed. The aim of this study was to explore the pathophysiology of cobalt-induced oxidative stress in the brain and its impact on structure and function. Thirty-five wild-type C57B16 mice received intraperitoneal cobalt chloride injections: a single high dose with evaluations at 24, 48, and 72 h (<i>n</i> = 5, each) or daily low doses for 28 (<i>n</i> = 5) or 56 days (<i>n</i> = 15). A part of the 56-day group also received minocycline (<i>n</i> = 5), while 10 mice served as controls. Behavioral changes were evaluated, and cobalt levels in tissues were measured with particle-induced X-ray emission. Brain sections underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electron microscopy, and histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analyses. High-dose cobalt caused transient illness, whereas chronic daily low-dose administration led to long-term elevations in cobalt levels accompanied by brain inflammation. Significant neurodegeneration was evidenced by demyelination, increased blood–brain barrier permeability, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Treated mice exhibited extended latency periods in the Morris water maze test and heightened anxiety in the open field test. Minocycline partially mitigated brain injury. The observed signs of neurodegeneration were dose- and time-dependent. The neurotoxicity after acute exposure was reversible, but the neurological and functional changes following chronic cobalt administration were not.
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spelling doaj-art-1905c9edd52444bba6ad09dff87bdfa72025-08-20T02:13:14ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092024-10-011321176510.3390/cells13211765Structure–Function Correlation in Cobalt-Induced Brain ToxicityBasel Obied0Stephen Richard1Alon Zahavi2Dror Fixler3Olga Girshevitz4Nitza Goldenberg-Cohen5The Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Bruce and Ruth Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3525433, IsraelThe Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Bruce and Ruth Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3525433, IsraelDepartment of Ophthalmology and Laboratory of Eye Research, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva 4941492, IsraelFaculty of Engineering and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, IsraelFaculty of Engineering and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, IsraelThe Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Bruce and Ruth Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3525433, IsraelCobalt toxicity is difficult to detect and therefore often underdiagnosed. The aim of this study was to explore the pathophysiology of cobalt-induced oxidative stress in the brain and its impact on structure and function. Thirty-five wild-type C57B16 mice received intraperitoneal cobalt chloride injections: a single high dose with evaluations at 24, 48, and 72 h (<i>n</i> = 5, each) or daily low doses for 28 (<i>n</i> = 5) or 56 days (<i>n</i> = 15). A part of the 56-day group also received minocycline (<i>n</i> = 5), while 10 mice served as controls. Behavioral changes were evaluated, and cobalt levels in tissues were measured with particle-induced X-ray emission. Brain sections underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electron microscopy, and histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analyses. High-dose cobalt caused transient illness, whereas chronic daily low-dose administration led to long-term elevations in cobalt levels accompanied by brain inflammation. Significant neurodegeneration was evidenced by demyelination, increased blood–brain barrier permeability, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Treated mice exhibited extended latency periods in the Morris water maze test and heightened anxiety in the open field test. Minocycline partially mitigated brain injury. The observed signs of neurodegeneration were dose- and time-dependent. The neurotoxicity after acute exposure was reversible, but the neurological and functional changes following chronic cobalt administration were not.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/21/1765cobaltneurodegenerationminocyclineMorris water mazeopen field testelectron microscopy
spellingShingle Basel Obied
Stephen Richard
Alon Zahavi
Dror Fixler
Olga Girshevitz
Nitza Goldenberg-Cohen
Structure–Function Correlation in Cobalt-Induced Brain Toxicity
Cells
cobalt
neurodegeneration
minocycline
Morris water maze
open field test
electron microscopy
title Structure–Function Correlation in Cobalt-Induced Brain Toxicity
title_full Structure–Function Correlation in Cobalt-Induced Brain Toxicity
title_fullStr Structure–Function Correlation in Cobalt-Induced Brain Toxicity
title_full_unstemmed Structure–Function Correlation in Cobalt-Induced Brain Toxicity
title_short Structure–Function Correlation in Cobalt-Induced Brain Toxicity
title_sort structure function correlation in cobalt induced brain toxicity
topic cobalt
neurodegeneration
minocycline
Morris water maze
open field test
electron microscopy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/21/1765
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AT stephenrichard structurefunctioncorrelationincobaltinducedbraintoxicity
AT alonzahavi structurefunctioncorrelationincobaltinducedbraintoxicity
AT drorfixler structurefunctioncorrelationincobaltinducedbraintoxicity
AT olgagirshevitz structurefunctioncorrelationincobaltinducedbraintoxicity
AT nitzagoldenbergcohen structurefunctioncorrelationincobaltinducedbraintoxicity