ABSTRACT
Aluminum, the third most abundant metal present in the earth's crust, is present almost in all daily commodities we use, and exposure to it is unavoidable. The interference of aluminum with various biochemical reactions in the body leads to detrimental health effects, out of which aluminum-induced neurodegeneration is widely studied. However, the effect of aluminum in causing dyslipidemia cannot be neglected. Dyslipidemia is a global health problem, which commences to the cosmic of non-communicable diseases. The interference of aluminum with various iron-dependent enzymatic activities in the tri-carboxylic acid cycle and electron transport chain results in decreased production of mitochondrial adenosine tri-phosphate. This ultimately contributes to oxidative stress and iron-mediated lipid peroxidation. This mitochondrial dysfunction along with modulation of α-ketoglutarate and L-carnitine perturbs lipid metabolism, leading to the atypical accumulation of lipids and dyslipidemia. Respiratory chain disruption because of the accumulation of reduced nicotinamide adenine di-nucleotide as a consequence of oxidative stress and the stimulatory effect of aluminum exposure on glycolysis causes many health issues including fat accumulation, obesity, and other hepatic disorders. One major factor contributing to dyslipidemia and enhanced pro-inflammatory responses is estrogen. Aluminum, being a metalloestrogen, modulates estrogen receptors, and in this world of industrialization and urbanization, we could corner down to metals, particularly aluminum, in the development of dyslipidemia. As per PRISMA guidelines, we did a literature search in four medical databases to give a holistic view of the possible link between aluminum exposure and various biochemical events leading to dyslipidemia.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Puberty is a developmental transition in which an estrogenic surge occurs, mediating the release of xenoestrogens, like aluminium. Aluminium's effect on anxiety in rodents at the different developmental stages is inconsistent. AIMS: This study aimed at investigating the effect of the metalloestrogenic property of aluminium on anxiety-like behavioral changes in prepubertal and young adult female rats. OBJECTIVE: Considering this aim, our objective was to evaluate the anxiety-like behavior by the elevated plus maze in prepubertal and young adult female rats with or without acute exposure to aluminium. METHODS: To address this property of aluminium, 5mg/Kg body weight (Al-5) and 10 mg/Kg body weight (Al-10) of aluminium was administered intraperitoneally to female rats at two developmental stages, prepubertal (PP; n = 8 for each dose) and young adult (YA; n = 6 for each dose) for two weeks. Post-treatment, three days behavioral assessment of the rats was done employing elevated plus maze. RESULTS: Reduced escape latency was seen in Al-5, Al-10 pre-pubertal rats, and Al-5 young-adult rats on day 3. A significant reduction in open arm time was seen in the Al-5 young-adult rats. Aluminium treatment in the pre-pubertal rats reduced their head dipping and grooming. Reduced sniffing, head dipping, and stretch-attended posture in the treated young-adult female rats showed that they had impaired risk-taking tendency. CONCLUSION: Differential effect on the anxiety-like behavior in the pre-pubertal and young-adult female rats might be due to the metalloestrogenic property of aluminium, acting differently on the two age groups.