Beryllium induced toxic manifestations in rat brain: Dose and duration dependent study

ABSTRACT

Exposure to beryllium causes bronchitis, bronchiolitis, chronic pulmonary granulomatosis, pneumonitis, hepatic and nephrotoxicity. In the present study, we carried out a dose and duration dependent study on beryllium induced toxic manifestations in rat brain. For dose dependent experiment, four groups of female albino rats were challenged with beryllium nitrate at 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 mg/kg, i.p. daily for 2 weeks, respectively. Similarly, for duration dependent study, animals were challenged with 1.0 mg/kg, i.p. dose of beryllium nitrate for 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively. Behavioural, biochemical and histopathological variables were performed to evaluate toxic effects of beryllium. Beryllium exposure decreased body weight, decreased motor coordination and increased anxiety level in dose and duration dependent manner. Total RBCs and hemoglobin content were decreased after beryllium intoxication. Serum bilirubin, creatinine, triglyceride, AST and ALT content were increased after beryllium intoxication, whereas ALP content was decreased in dose and duration dependent manner. Peroxidative damage was noticed in different parts of brain in dose and duration dependent manner. Beryllium administration altered histoarchitecture of brain cortex in same manner. In dose dependent study, maximum alterations in various parameters were evident at 1.0 mg/kg dose, and also it showed toxic consequences of beryllium in a duration dependent manner. Thus, exposure of 1.0 mg/kg dose of beryllium for 4 weeks duration was found to be most suitable for further studies of assessment of therapeutic agent against beryllium induced neurotoxicity.