ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of carbon disulfide (CS(2)) on oxidation-antioxidation function of rat nerve tissues.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the low-dosage exposure group and the high-dosage group, 10 rats each. The rats of the two exposure groups were administered with CS(2) by gavage at a dosage of 300 or 500 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1), 5 times every week for continuous 12 weeks. The alterations in glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), hydrogen peroxidase (CAT) and total anti-oxidation (T-AOC) in cerebrum, spinal cord, and sciatic nerve of CS(2)-treated animals were assayed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed that the contents of MDA and ROS in nerve tissues of CS(2)-treated groups increased significantly except ROS in spinal cord and sciatic nerve of low dose group. The content of MDA was increased by 20.7% and 33.6% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group, by 18.5% and 23.3% respectively in the spinal cord, and by 20.7% and 53.0% respectively in the sciatic nerve, The content of MOS was increased by 20.1% and 34.9% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group, and by 14.1% and 15.4% respectively in the spinal cord and the sciatic nerve of the rats of the high-dosage group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Furthermore, the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT and T-AOC decreased significantly except GSH-Px and SOD in cerebrum of low dose group. The content of GSH was decreased by 17.2% and 26.5% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group, by 26.4% and 31.2% respectively in the spinal cord, and by 15.1% and 20.0% respectively in the sciatic nerve. The content of T-AOC was decreased by 11.1 and 26.4% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group, by 15.1% and 38.4% respectively in the spinal cord, and by 35.6% and 42.3% respectively in the sciatic nerve. The activity of SOD was decreased by 12.1% and 25.4% respectively in the spinal cord of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group and by 16.4% and 30.3% respectively in the sciatic nerve. The activity of GSH-Px was decreased by 17.3% and 32.5% respectively in the spinal cord of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group and by 17.1% and 21.5% respectively in the sciatic nerve. The activity of GSH-Px and SOD was decreased by 12.6% and 30.1% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the high-dosage group. The activity of CAT was decreased by 17.5% and 39.4% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group, by 25.2% and 31.3% respectively in the spinal cord, and by 17.1% and 36.9% respectively in the sciatic nerve (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Subchronic exposure to CS(2) can induce significant changes of oxidation-antioxidation function in rat nerve tissues, which might be related to CS(2)-induced neurotoxicity.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Antioxidants , Metabolism , Carbon Disulfide , Lipid Peroxidation , Nerve Tissue , Metabolism , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether the alterations of microtubule and microfilament expression are responsible for the neurotoxicity of carbon disulfide.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were administered with carbon disulfide by gavage at a dosage of 300 or 500 mg/kg for continuous 12 weeks (five times per week). Spinal cords of carbon disulfide-intoxicated rats and their age-matched controls were Triton-extracted and ultracentrifuged to yield a pellet and a corresponding supernatant fraction. Then, the contents of alpha-tubulin, beta-tubulin, and beta-actin in both fractions were determined by immunoblotting. In the meantime, their mRNA levels in spinal cords were quantified using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the supernatant fraction, the contents of beta-tubulin and beta-actin in both treated groups increased significantly (P < 0.01) the content of beta-tubulin increased by 141% and 158% respectively, and the content of beta-actin increased by 19% and 32% respectively. In the pellet fraction, the content of beta-tubulin in both groups increased by 107%(P < 0.01) and 118%(P < 0.01) respectively, and the others keep unaffected. In the meantime, the levels of of mRNA expression of beta-tubulin and beta-actin gene were elevated consistently in CS(2)-treated groups (P < 0.01) the levels of mRNA expression of beta-tubulin increased by 207% and 212% respectively, and the levels of mRNA expression of beta-actin increased by 94% and 91% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Carbon disulfide intoxication results in alternations of microtubule and microfilament expression, and the alternations might be related to its neurotoxicity.</p>