Abstract
Background: Nickel ions (Ni2+) are a heavy metal with wide industrial uses. Environmental and occupational exposures to Ni are potential risk factors for brain dysfunction and behavioral and neurological symptoms in humans.
Methods: We reviewed the current evidence about neurochemical and behavioral alterations associated with Ni exposure in laboratory animals and humans.
Results: Ni2+ exposure can alter (both inhibition and stimulation) dopamine release and inhibit glutamate NMDA receptors. Few reports claim an effect of Ni2+ at the level of GBA and serotonin neurotransmission. At behavioral levels, exposure to Ni2+ in rodents alters motor activity, learning and memory as well as anxiety and depressive-like symptoms. However, no analysis of the dose-dependent relationship has been carried out regarding these effects and the levels of the Ni2+ in the brain, in blood or urine.
Conclusion: Further research is needed to correlate the concentration of Ni2+ in biological fluids with specific symptoms/deficits. Future studies addressing the impact of Ni2+ under environmental or occupational exposure should consider the administration protocols to find Ni2+ levels similar in the general population or occupationally exposed workers.
Keywords: Nickel, brain, behaviour, neurotransmitter, dopamine, glutamate, GABA.
Graphical Abstract
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2008.08.002] [PMID: 19013355]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1615/JEnvironPatholToxicolOncol.v28.i3.10] [PMID: 19888907]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cod.12846] [PMID: 28730624]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871530318666180731114418] [PMID: 30062976]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2017.10.006] [PMID: 29032222]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/taap.2000.9097] [PMID: 11162780]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/22/12/126003] [PMID: 21389501]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ejo/26.4.421] [PMID: 15366387]
[PMID: 7468231]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfq071] [PMID: 20200219]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4274(97)03885-X] [PMID: 9175852]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/43.2.196] [PMID: 9710961]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfv325] [PMID: 26721301]
[PMID: 19106437]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ic802171b] [PMID: 19235941]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crvi.2009.03.004] [PMID: 19632651]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2005.12.009] [PMID: 16529948]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2008.02.015] [PMID: 19046900]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1532-0456(01)00228-9] [PMID: 11574285]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0166-445X(01)00239-9] [PMID: 12007877]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/brainsci8080141] [PMID: 30065183]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9006-0] [PMID: 21360057]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10646-009-0410-6] [PMID: 19821026]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2011.03.008] [PMID: 21419151]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ol9029534] [PMID: 20099867]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/asia.201500599] [PMID: 26307522]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002329900059] [PMID: 8661496]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15376510600783858] [PMID: 20020994]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00018-012-1225-9] [PMID: 23250353]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0165-0270(85)90035-4] [PMID: 2864481]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0006-8993(96)01247-4] [PMID: 9067448]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/cn500274g] [PMID: 25434848]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0306-4522(03)00385-3] [PMID: 12895515]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M115.688275] [PMID: 26504078]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2003.08.069] [PMID: 14612150]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2008.08.020] [PMID: 18835401]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03033978] [PMID: 16371319]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12640-009-9003-7] [PMID: 19384586]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0169-328X(03)00293-6] [PMID: 14559147]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0896-6273(95)90099-3] [PMID: 7576654]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.12.018] [PMID: 21182900]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(01)02069-9] [PMID: 11585573]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1996.sp021631] [PMID: 8887781]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.08.026] [PMID: 16203104]
[PMID: 1658609]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7793.1998.077bu.x] [PMID: 9490820]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00995562] [PMID: 8570012]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/bi00428a026] [PMID: 2653424]
[PMID: 7468231]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(85)90194-5] [PMID: 4011715]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2013.05.011] [PMID: 23727075]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01480545.2018.1437173] [PMID: 29482365]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.128.1.424] [PMID: 16002966]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/009841099157593] [PMID: 10478821]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700140303] [PMID: 3189343]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.febslet.2007.11.045] [PMID: 18037383]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(94)90400-6] [PMID: 8029699]