[Lactobacillus plantarum alleviates lead exposure-induced learning and memory impairment in mice by regulating bile acid metabolism and inhibiting hippocampal NLRP3 expression].

OBJECTIVES: ) for alleviating learning and memory impairments caused by lead exposure. METHODS: CFU) for 10 weeks. Learning and memory abilities of the mice were evaluated using Morris water maze test, and blood lead level and bile acid levels were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), respectively. Hippocampal pathologies of the mice were examined with HE staining, and immunohistochemistry was used to observe morphological changes and microglia activation in the hippocampus. Serum levels of TNF‑α and IL-1β of the mice were determined with ELISA, and hippocampal expression levels of NLRP3 and TGR5 proteins were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: intervention partially reversed lead exposure induced reduction of serum levels of deoxycholic acid, 3-hydroxydeoxycholic acid, 3-hydroxyursodeoxycholic acid, 3-thiodeoxycholic acid, and 3-thio‑α‑methylcholic acid. The treatment also significantly reduced hippocampus pathologies in mice with lead exposure, and reduced their serum levels of IL-1β and TNF‑α and hippocampal NLRP3 protein expression levels. CONCLUSIONS: can alleviate learning and memory impairments caused by lead exposure in mice possibly by regulating bile acid metabolism and inhibiting hippocampal expression of NLRP3 protein.