5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) is present in numerous carbohydrate-containing consumer products and is readily converted into two oligomers (II and III) by acid-catalyzed transformations. Previous studies have demonstrated various undesirable effects of 5-HMF at relatively high concentrations. In this study, we demonstrate that 5-HMF and its two oligomers exert neurotoxic effects in vivo and in vitro. All three substances blocked the proliferation of PC12 and HT22 cells at the S or G2-M phase in dose- and time-dependent manners. In addition, [Ca2+]i and reactive oxygen species levels were both significantly increased by treatment with these substances at 100 μM, individually, compared with the control group. Although no motor and cognitive deficits are observed, 5-HMF and III can induce anxiety- and depression-like behavior in adolescent mice at administered doses of 0.15 mg kg-1 and 1.5 mg kg-1 in vivo, which are close to or less than the reported 24 h dietary intake of 5-HMF in humans. Together, our findings suggest the need for close monitoring of the content of these substances in food, as well as the need for studies on the effects of long-term exposure to them.

中文翻译：

---

5-羟甲基糠醛及其低聚物的潜在神经毒性：含碳水化合物的食物中广泛存在的物质。

5-羟甲基糠醛（5-HMF）存在于许多含碳水化合物的消费产品中，并容易通过酸催化转化转化为两种低聚物（II和III）。先前的研究表明，在相对较高的浓度下5-HMF会产生各种不良影响。在这项研究中，我们证明了5-HMF及其两个低聚物在体内和体外均具有神经毒性作用。这三种物质均以剂量和时间依赖性方式阻止了S12或G2-M期PC12和HT22细胞的增殖。此外，与对照组相比，通过分别用100μM的这些物质处理，[Ca2 +] i和活性氧的含量均显着增加。尽管没有观察到运动和认知缺陷，5-HMF和III可以在青春期小鼠体内以0.15 mg kg-1和1.5 mg kg-1的剂量诱导焦虑和抑郁样行为，该剂量接近或小于报道的24小时饮食摄入5的剂量。 -人类中的HMF。总之，我们的发现表明需要密切监控食品中这些物质的含量，以及需要研究长期接触这些物质的影响。