THE AMELIORATING ROLE OF Alpha-LIPOIC ACID SUPPLMENTATION ON ADVERSE EFFECTS INDUCED BY LEAD ACETATE IN BOTH THE HIPPOCAMUS AND THE CEREBRAL CORTEX OF THE MALE ALBINO RATS | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Zoology | ||||
| Article 8, Volume 68, Issue 68, December 2017, Page 141-162 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Research Papers | ||||
| DOI: 10.12816/0043185 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
| Eman M. Abd-Ella1; Suzan F. El-Sisy2; Heba A. El-Dash1 | ||||
| 1Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt | ||||
| 2Branch of Zoology, National Organization of Drugs Control and Research, Giza, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| The present study focused on two brain areas "the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex". It was designed to investigate the possible mechanisms involved in Lead acetate neurotoxicity and the potential protective effects of α-lipoic acid (α-LA), as an antioxidant against lead-induced neurotoxicity. Fourty adult male albino rats Rattus rattus (each weighing 130 ± 10 g) were divided into four groups (n=8): 1- Normal control group; C: Normal male rats fed ad libitum and allowed a free access of water, and were kept without any treatments. 2- Initiation group (lead-acetate control group; A): Normal male rats received Lead acetate in an interperitoneal dose of 20 mg/kg b.wt daily for two weeks. 3- Treatment group (α-lipoic acid control group; B): Normal male rats were intraperitoneally injected with α-lipoic acid in a dose of 20 mg/kg b.wt daily for three weeks. 4- Pre-initiation treatment group (prophylactic group; D): Normal male rats were intraperitoneally injected with α-Lipoic acid in a dose of 20 mg/kg b.wt daily for one week and then received the above-mentioned dose of the lead acetate for other two successive weeks together with the same dose of α-lipoic acid. 5- Post-initiation treatment group (therapeutic group; E): Normal male rats were intraperitoneally injected once daily with lead acetate (20 mg/kg b.wt) for two weeks then were intraperitoneally injected with α-lipoic acid in a dose of 20 mg/kg b.wt daily for successive three weeks. The levels of lipid peroxidation as malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl content (PCC), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide level (NO), and serotonin (5- HT) were estimated in the selected brain regions, the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex, of adult male albino rats in the different groups. These biochemical variables were supported by histopathological examinations by using H&E and toluidine blue staining. Results showed that administration of lead acetate led to enhancement of lipid peroxidation and increased PCC with a concomitant reduction in GSH levels and NO production. In addition, the levels of 5-HT decreased in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex. However, the administration of α-LA showed a protective effect against Lead acetate-induced neurotoxicity. Rats treated with α-LA showed a corresponding decrease in lipid peroxidation and PCC level. Furthermore, there was an increase in brain GSH level, NO production and level of 5-HT in both brain regions "the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex". Histological studies showed that Lead acetate caused different degrees of neuronal degeneration, focal gliosis, pyknotic neurons, oedema in meninges, cerebral neuropil vacuolization and degenerations. The rats treated with α-lipoic acid revealed an improvement in the histopathological alterations induced by Lead acetate. Finally, the data showed that α-LA has an effect when administered as a therapeutic drug more than as a prophylactic one. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Neurotoxicity; alpha-lipoic acid; histopathology; lead toxicity; biochemistry | ||||
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