ABSTRACT
Exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPF) poses several harmful effects to human and animal health. The present study investigated the influence of diphenyl diselenide (DPDS) on CPF-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. Firstly, the time course lethality response of virgin flies (2- to 3-day-old) to CPF (0.075-0.6µg/g) and DPDP (5-40µmol/kg) in the diet for 28 consecutive days were investigated. Subsequently, the protective effect of DPDS (10, 20 and 40µmol/kg) on CPF (0.15µg/g)-induced mortality, locomotor deficits, neurotoxicity and oxidative stress was assessed in a co-exposure paradigm for 7 days. Results showed that CPF exposure significantly decreased the percent live flies in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, whereas the percent live flies with DPDS treatment was not statistically different from control following 28 days of treatment. In the co-exposure study, CPF significantly increased flies mortality while the survivors exhibited significant locomotor deficits with decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Dietary supplementation with DPDS was associated with marked decrease in mortality, improvement in locomotor activity and restoration of AChE activity in CPF-exposed flies. Moreover, CPF exposure significantly decreased catalase and glutathione-S-transferase activities, total thiol level with concomitant significant elevation in the levels of reactive oxygen species and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the head and body regions of the treated flies. Dietary supplementation with DPDS significantly improved the antioxidant status and prevented CPF-induced oxidative stress, thus demonstrating the protective effect of DPDS in CPF-treated flies.
Subject(s)
Benzene Derivatives/pharmacology , Chlorpyrifos/toxicity , Drosophila melanogaster/drug effects , Organoselenium Compounds/pharmacology , Acetylcholinesterase/metabolism , Animals , Antioxidants/metabolism , Biomarkers/metabolism , Catalase/metabolism , Drosophila melanogaster/enzymology , Head , Locomotion/drug effects , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Sulfhydryl Compounds/metabolism , Survival Analysis , Time FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Methanolic leaf extracts of Parkia biglobosa, PBE, and one of its major polyphenolic constituents, catechin, were investigated for their protective effects against neurotoxicity induced by different agents on rat brain hippocampal slices and isolated mitochondria. METHODS: Hippocampal slices were preincubated with PBE (25, 50, 100, or 200 µg/mL) or catechin (1, 5, or 10 µg/mL) for 30 min followed by further incubation with 300 µM H2O2, 300 µM SNP, or 200 µM PbCl2 for 1 h. Effects of PBE and catechin on SNP- or CaCl2-induced brain mitochondrial ROS formation and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were also determined. RESULTS: PBE and catechin decreased basal ROS generation in slices and blunted the prooxidant effects of neurotoxicants on membrane lipid peroxidation and nonprotein thiol contents. PBE rescued hippocampal cellular viability from SNP damage and caused a significant boost in hippocampus Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity but with no effect on the acetylcholinesterase activity. Both PBE and catechin also mitigated SNP- or CaCl2-dependent mitochondrial ROS generation. Measurement by safranine fluorescence however showed that the mild depolarization of the ΔΨm by PBE was independent of catechin. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of PBE is dependent on its constituent antioxidants and mild mitochondrial depolarization propensity.
Subject(s)
Fabaceae/chemistry , Hippocampus/metabolism , Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/physiology , Mitochondria/physiology , Neurotoxins/toxicity , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Animals , Cell Survival/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Hippocampus/drug effects , Hippocampus/pathology , Male , Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects , Mitochondria/drug effects , Neuroprotective Agents/administration & dosage , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolismABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the in vitro pro-oxidant effect of ascorbic acid towards thiol groups could be mediated by free radicals formed during its auto-oxidation and/or by a direct oxidation of -SH groups by its oxidized form (dehydroascorbic acid). This hypothesis was examined by measuring the rate of AA (ascorbic acid) oxidation in MOPS (3-morpholinepropanesulfonic acid buffer) and phosphate buffer (PB). Here we have used dithiothreitol (DTT) as model of vicinal thiol-containing enzymes, namely δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase. The rate of AA and DTT oxidation was more pronounced in the presence of PB than in the MOPS. AA oxidation induced by iron/EDTA complex was significantly reduced by addition of superoxide dismutase, catalase and DTT to the reaction medium. H2O2 alone did not stimulate the oxidation of AA; however, AA oxidation was enhanced significantly with the addition of crescent concentrations of iron. Conversely, in DTT oxidation assay (without AA) the addition of iron, EDTA and H2O2, did not promote the oxidation of -SH groups. Our findings suggest that in the presence of physiological concentrations of AA and thiols, the oxidation of -SH groups is mediated by AA conversion to dehydroascorbic acid with the participation of iron. Furthermore, free radical species formed during the auto-oxidation of AA apparently did not oxidize thiol groups to a significant extent.
