The effects of diazinon on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in rat heart and ameliorating role of vitamin E and vitamin C.

Diazinon is one of the most widely used organophosphate insecticides (OPIs) in agriculture and public health programs. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by OPIs may be involved in the toxicity of various pesticides. The aim of this study was to investigate how diazinon affects lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the antioxidant defense system in vivo and the possible ameliorating role of vitamins E and C. For this purpose, experiments were done to study the effects of DI on LPO and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) in adult rat heart. Experimental groups were: (1) control group, (2) diazinon treated (DI) group, (3) DI+vitamins E and C-treated (DI+Vit) group. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of SOD and CAT increased significantly in the DI group compared with the control group. The activity of SOD and the levels of MDA decreased significantly in the DI+Vit group compared with the DI group. The differences between the DI+Vit and control groups according to the MDA levels and the activities of both SOD and CAT were statistically significant. These results suggest that treating rats with a single dose of diazinon increases LPO and some antioxidant enzyme activities in the rat myocardium and, in addition, that single-dose treatment with a combination of vitamins E and C after the administration of diazinon can reduce LPO caused by diazinon, though this treatment was not sufficiently effective to reduce the values to those in control group.

Investigation of malondialdehyde formation and antioxidant enzyme activity in stored blood.

In the present study, fresh blood obtained from six healthy adult male donors was investigated for erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and antioxidative enzyme activity. Plasma and erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation were measured by MDA formation. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were determined in whole blood stored for transfusion purposes. Erythrocyte and plasma MDA levels increased significantly during the storage period from day 3 to day 19 and, after that, stayed unchanged. Erythrocyte MDA increased 100% on day 7 when compared to day 1. The GSH-Px activity significantly decreased after day 9 and SOD decreased after day 13. The reduction in enzyme activities continued until day 27. Our results showed significant alteration in erythrocyte membrane and plasma MDA formation and intracellular antioxidant enzyme status in whole blood used for transfusion. However, we do not know whether such alterations have clinical importances for the recipient.

Ultrastructural changes in rat Paneth and goblet cells after the administration of interferon-alpha.

Electron microscopic examination was performed to show the effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on Paneth and goblet cells in rat intestines. After the administration of IFN-alpha (70,000 IU/kg), many cells of both types were depleted of secretory granules and their apical membranes had the deep cavitation that accompanies recent compound exocytotic activity. These results may indicate the involvement of these cells in the inflammatory reactions via IFN-alpha and this model provides a powerful tool to study differential effects of IFN-alpha on Paneth and goblet cells.