Biochemical and genetic alterations of oxidant/antioxidant status of the brain in rats treated with dexamethasone: protective roles of melatonin and acetyl-L-carnitine

RESUMEN

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ABSTRACT

The current study was undertaken to investigate the protective role of melatonin (MEL) and acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) against dexamethasone (DM)-induced neurotoxicity. Adult female rats (60) were divided into (1) control group, (2) DM-treated group, (3) MEL-treated group, (4) ALC-treated group, (5) MEL- and DM-treated, and (6) ALC- and DM-treated group. Serum acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) level, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were estimated. Gene expression of the prooxidants (NO synthases NOS-1, NOS-2 and heme oxygenases HO-1, HO-2) and antioxidant enzyme (GST-P1) as well as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation (..)(AU)