RADIATION PROTECTION ›› 2023, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (6): 678-686.

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Research progress on the neurotoxicity of uranium and related functional mechanism

ZHANG Ting1, ZHAN Jingming1, ZHOU Xiaolin1, ZHANG Hui2, ZHANG Yanna1   

  1. 1. China Institute for radiation proctection,Taiyuan 030006;
    2. CNNC North Nuclear Fuel Components Co. Ltd.,Neimenggu Baotou 014035
  • Received:2022-12-11 Online:2023-11-20 Published:2023-12-25

Abstract: With the continuous research on uranium, more and more toxicological evidence shows that uranium not only has some effects on the kidneys and bones, but also that uranium exposure may cause abnormal behavior of the nervous system such as depression, anxiety, movement and language disorders. The neurotoxicity of uranium is more insidious, but its long-term toxic effects can not be ignored. This paper introduces the neurotoxicity of uranium from the experimental study of animal models and population epidemiological investigation, and explains the mechanism of neurotoxicity of uranium from four ways, namely: inflammation and oxidative stress, apoptosis and necrosis, cell death or neuronal signal transduction and intracellular signal transduction, and Epigenetics mechanism of the central nervous system. This paper reviews the neurotoxicity and possible mechanisms of uranium (including depleted uranium), with the aim of providing new ideas for uranium toxicity research and better safeguarding the health of relevant practitioners.

Key words: uranium, neurotoxicity, mechanism of action, animal experiments, population studies

CLC Number: 

  • R818.73