Mercury toxicity in pregnant and lactating rats: zinc and N-acetylcysteine as alternative of prevention.

This study evaluated the toxic effects of inorganic mercury (Hg) in pregnant and lactating rats, as well as the possible protective effect of zinc (Zn) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Pregnant and lactating rats were pre-treated with ZnCl2 (27 mg/kg) and/or NAC (5 mg/kg) and after 24 h, they were exposed to HgCl2 (10 mg/kg). Animals were sacrificed 24 h after Hg exposure, and biochemical tests and metal determination were performed. Regarding pregnant rats, Hg exposure caused kidney, blood, and placenta δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) activity inhibition, and the pre-treatments showed a tendency of protection. Moreover, all the animals exposed to Hg presented high Hg levels in the kidney, liver, and placenta when compared with control group. Pregnant rats pre-exposed to Zn (Zn-Hg and Zn/NAC-Hg groups) presented an increase in hepatic metallothionein levels. Therefore, lactating rats exposed to Hg presented renal and blood δ-ALA-D inhibition; the pre-treatments showed a tendency to prevent the renal δ-ALA-D inhibition and prevented the blood δ-ALA-D inhibition caused by Hg. Lactating rats exposed to Hg presented high Hg levels in the kidney and liver. These results showed that 10 mg/kg of HgCl2 causes biochemistry alterations in pregnant and lactating rats, and Zn and NAC present promising results against these damages.

The bioaccumulation of waterborne zinc in tissues of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) and its effect on biochemical parameters.

Silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) is a fish species with neotropical distribution, and is a potential model organism to study polluted environment. The aim of this study is to analyze the response of silver catfish to environmental concentrations of waterborne zinc (Zn) over 96 h. Significant metal accumulation was seen in gill, intestine and liver tissues. No significant accumulation was seen in muscle tissue. Lipid peroxidation increased in the brain, and decreased in the muscle and liver at all levels of exposure. Zinc exposure led to decreased protein carbonyl levels in the brain and increased levels in the liver. The activity of catalase in the liver was reduced for all exposed groups. Glutathione S-transferase activity decreased in the brain at the highest level of exposure and in the liver at all Zn concentrations tested. Non-protein thiols increased in the muscle and in the gills after exposure. Ascorbic acid levels increased in the brain and in the gills. Exposure to Zn also altered the metabolic parameters, causing decreased lactate and ammonia levels in the muscle, and decreased glycogen in the liver. Zinc exposure increased ammonia and amino acid levels in the liver, and increase glycogen and amino acid levels in muscle tissue. Our results demonstrate that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of Zn led to accumulation of metals in the tissues of silver catfish, with significant changes in biochemical parameters.

Neuroprotective effects of berberine on recognition memory impairment, oxidative stress, and damage to the purinergic system in rats submitted to intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease. The present study investigated the effects of 50 and 100 mg/kg berberine (BRB) on recognition memory, oxidative stress, and purinergic neurotransmission, in a model of sporadic dementia of the Alzheimer's type induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. Rats were submitted to ICV-STZ 3 mg/kg or saline, and 3 days later, were started on a treatment of BRB or saline for 21 days. The results demonstrated that BRB was effective in protecting against memory impairment, increased reactive oxygen species, and the subsequent increase in protein and lipid oxidation in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase inhibition in the cerebral cortex. Moreover, the decrease in total thiols, and the reduced glutathione and glutathione S-transferase activity in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of ICV-STZ rats, was prevented by BRB treatment. Besides an antioxidant effect, BRB treatment was capable of preventing decreases in ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase), 5'-nucleotidase (EC-5'-Nt), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities in synaptosomes of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Thus, our data suggest that BRB exerts a neuroprotective effect on recognition memory, as well as on oxidative stress and oxidative stress-related damage, such as dysfunction of the purinergic system. This suggests that BRB may act as a promising multipotent agent for the treatment of AD.

Selenothymidine protects against biochemical and behavioral alterations induced by ICV-STZ model of dementia in mice.

The present study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of one selenium-containing AZT derivative compound (S1073) in memory and learning impairment caused by Intracerebroventricular-streptozotocin (ICV-STZ). ICV-STZ in mice causes impairment of energy metabolism with oxidative damage and cholinergic dysfunction, and provides a relevant model for sporadic dementia of Alzheimer's type (AD). Acetylcolinesterase (AChE), Catalase (CAT), dichlorofluorescein oxidation (DCFH), TBARS and thiol content were measured. Swiss adult mice were pre-treated with S1073 [1 mmol/kg] (i.p.) and after 30 min of the injection received a bilateral dose of STZ [11.3 µmol/l]. After 8 days' STZ injection, we performed the behavioral experiments (Beaker test, Open field and Morris water maze task). ICV-STZ caused significant learning and memory impairments, which were significantly improved by S1073 pre-treatment. A significant increase in cerebral DFCH, TBARS levels and AChE activity and a disturbance in the memory and learning were observed in ICV-STZ injected animals. S1073 significantly ameliorated all alterations induced by ICV-STZ in mice. All these findings support the neuroprotective role of S1073 in mice model of Alzheimer's dementia-type induced by ICV-STZ, which may be associated with its antioxidant activity and/or with its inhibitory effect in brain AChE. In fact, in silico analysis indicated that S1073 may be an inhibitor of AChE.

Acute mercury exposition of virgin, pregnant, and lactating rats: Histopathological kidney and liver evaluations.

This work investigated the effects of mercury chloride (HgCl2 ) acute exposure on virgin, pregnant and lactating rats by determination of renal and hepatic morphological and ultrastructural parameters and the expression of oxidative stress and stress tolerance markers, due to kidney and liver are the organs that more accumulate inorganic mercury. Adult Wistar rats virgin (90 days old), pregnant (18th gestation day) and lactating (7th lactation day) were injected once with HgCl2 (5 mg/kg) or saline (controls). We observed that HgCl2 exposure of virgin rats caused significant inflammatory infiltration and severe morphological variations, like glomeruli atrophy, dilatation of Bowman's capsule, tubular degeneration and hepatocytes alteration. Moreover, virgin rats presented mitochondrial modification, important oxidative stress and increase in stress tolerance proteins at both kidney and liver level, compared with virgin controls. In detail, virgin rats exposed to HgCl2 presented significantly elevated level of inducible nitric oxide synthase, heat shock protein 27 and glucose regulated proteins 75 expressions at both renal tubular and hepatocytes level, respect untreated virgin rats. Interestingly, pregnant and lactating rats exposed to HgCl2 presented weak renal and liver morphological alterations, showing weak inflammatory infiltration and no significant difference in structural mitochondrial transmembrane protein, oxidative stress markers and stress tolerance proteins expressions respect controls (virgin, pregnant and lactating rats). Although, both control and HgCl2 -exposed pregnant and lactating rats showed renal glomeruli greater in diameter respect virgin rats. In conclusion, we believe that virgin rats are more sensitive to HgCl2 toxicity respect pregnant and lactating rats. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 1500-1512, 2017.

Free radical scavenging in vitro and biological activity of diphenyl diselenide-loaded nanocapsules: DPDS-NCS antioxidant and toxicological effects.

Selenium compounds, such as diphenyl diselenide (DPDS), have been shown to exhibit biological activity, including antioxidant effects. However, the use of DPDS in pharmacology is limited due to in vivo pro-oxidative effects. In addition, studies have shown that DPDS-loaded nanocapsules (DPDS-NCS) have greater bioavailability than free DPDS in mice. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant properties of DPDS-NCS in vitro and biological activity in mice. Our in vitro results suggested that DPDS-NCS significantly reduced the production of reactive oxygen species and Fe(II)-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) in brain. The administration of DPDS-NCS did not result in death or change the levels of endogenous reduced or oxidized glutathione after 72 hours of exposure. Moreover, ex vivo assays demonstrated that DPDS-NCS significantly decreased the LPO and reactive oxygen species levels in the brain. In addition, the highest dose of DPDS-NCS significantly reduced Fe(II)- and sodium nitroprusside-induced LPO in the brain and Fe(II)-induced LPO in the liver. Also, δ-aminolevulinate acid dehydratase within the brain was inhibited only in the highest dose of DPDS-NCS. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that DPDS-NCS exhibited low toxicity in mice and have significant antioxidant characteristics, indicating that nanoencapsulation is a safer method of DPDS administration.

Zinc and N-acetylcysteine modify mercury distribution and promote increase in hepatic metallothionein levels.

This study investigated the ability of zinc (Zn) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in preventing the biochemical alterations caused by mercury (Hg) and the retention of this metal in different organs. Adult female rats received ZnCl2 (27mg/kg) and/or NAC (5mg/kg) or saline (0.9%) subcutaneously and after 24h they received HgCl2 (5mg/kg) or saline (0.9%). Twenty-four hours after, they were sacrificed and analyses were performed. Hg inhibited hepatic, renal, and blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) activity, decreased renal total thiol levels, as well as increased serum creatinine and urea levels and aspartate aminotransferase activity. HgCl2-exposed groups presented an important retention of Hg in all the tissues analyzed. All pre-treatments demonstrated tendency in preventing hepatic δ-ALA-D inhibition, whereas only ZnCl2 showed this effect on blood enzyme. Moreover, the combination of these compounds completely prevented liver and blood Hg retention. The exposure to Zn and Hg increased hepatic metallothionein levels. These results show that Zn and NAC presented promising effects against the toxicity caused by HgCl2.

Effectiveness of (PhSe)2 in protect against the HgCl2 toxicity.

This work investigated the preventive effect of diphenyl diselenide [(PhSe)2] on renal and hepatic toxicity biomarkers and oxidative parameters in adult mice exposed to mercury chloride (HgCl2). Selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) determination was also carried out. Mice received a daily oral dose of (PhSe)2 (5.0mg/kg/day) or canola oil for five consecutive days. During the following five days, the animals were treated with a daily subcutaneous dose of HgCl2 (5.0mg/kg/day) or saline (0.9%). Twenty-four hours after the last HgCl2 administration, the animals were sacrificed and biological material was obtained. Concerning toxicity biomarkers, Hg exposure inhibited blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALA-D), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and also increased serum creatinine levels. (PhSe)2 partially prevented blood δ-ALA-D inhibition and totally prevented the serum creatinine increase. Regarding the oxidative parameters, Hg decreased kidney TBARS levels and increased kidney non-protein thiol levels, while (PhSe)2 pre-treatment partially protected the kidney thiol levels increase. Animals exposed to HgCl2 presented Hg content accumulation in blood, kidney and liver. The (PhSe)2 pre-treatment increased Hg accumulation in kidney and decreased in blood. These results show that (PhSe)2 can be efficient in protecting against these toxic effects presented by this Hg exposure model.

Lactating and non-lactating rats differ in sensitivity to HgCl(2): Protective effect of ZnCl(2).

This work investigated zinc (Zn) and mercury (Hg) effects on oxidative parameters, markers of toxicity and metal levels in different tissues from non-lactating rats (NLR) and lactating rats (LR). Adult NLR and LR received ZnCl2 (27mg/kg) or saline (0.9%) subcutaneously and after 24h they received HgCl2 (5mg/kg) or saline (0.9%). Twenty four hours later, they were sacrificed and the preparation of biological material and biochemical analyses were performed. With respect to oxidative parameters, Hg exposure decreased kidney total SH levels from NLR and LR and hepatic catalase activity (not statistically significant) in NLR. Zinc pre-treatment partly prevented the decrease of kidney total SH levels in LR. Zinc per se increased hepatic non-protein SH levels of NLR and LR. Regarding toxicity markers, Hg exposure inhibited the δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) activity from kidney and liver of NLR, inhibited serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity of LR and increased serum creatinine and urea levels of NLR and LR. Zinc pre-exposure prevented the enzymatic alterations caused by Hg. NLR and LR Hg exposed presented accumulation of mercury in the kidney, liver, blood and urine. Zinc pre-treatment prevented this accumulation partly in NLR liver and blood and completely in LR kidney and liver. These results show that NLR and LR are differently sensitive to HgCl2 and that ZnCl2 showed a promising effect against Hg toxicity.

Antioxidant effect of zinc chloride against ethanol-induced gastrointestinal lesions in rats.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible effects of zinc chloride against the gastrointestinal lesions caused by oral administration of ethanol in rats. Rats were divided into five groups, namely, saline, ethanol, zn, zn+ethanol and ethanol+zn. Ethanol 70% (2 mL/kg) was administered by gavage in 36 h fasted rats. Zinc chloride (27 mg/kg, ~13 mg/kg of zinc) was given by gavage 1h before or 1h after the administration of ethanol. Oral administration of ethanol consistently induced damage in the rat glandular stomach and intestine. Zinc did not demonstrate effect per se and significantly reduced gastrointestinal lesions when administered either before or after lesion induction. Ethanol induced enhancement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and reactive species levels, diminished the ascorbic acid and total protein SH content as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in stomach and intestine of rats. Zinc treatment prevented and reversed these alterations induced by ethanol. Stomach and intestine of rats treated with zinc presented higher zinc content than the tissues of rats treated only with ethanol. Non-protein SH content was not altered by any treatment. Results suggested that the gastrointestinal protective effect of zinc in this experimental model could be due to its antioxidant effect.