Neurotoxic effect of enteral aluminium.

Long Evans rats were treated for 90 days with water-soluble, insoluble or chelated aluminium compounds. The daily treatments given were as follows: controls, NaCl (100 mg/kg body weight) plus citric acid (30 mg/kg); AlCl3 (30 or 100 mg/kg); Al(OH)3 (100 mg/kg) plus citric acid (30 mg/kg); Al(OH)3 (300 mg/kg). Their learning ability was determined in the labyrinth test at day 90, and the choline-acetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase activity and aluminium content of the brains were measured. Soluble and chelated aluminium compounds seriously worsened the learning ability, and the aluminium content of the brain was elevated. Acetylcholinesterase activity increased and choline-acetyltransferase activity decreased, resulting in a diminished cholinergic activity, which is a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.