Changes in ascorbic acid and malondialdehyde in rats after exposure to mercury.
BACKGROUND
Mercury is one of the ubiquitous pollutants participating in generation of reactive oxygen species leading to the formation of oxidative stress.


METHODS
Changes in plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid and malondialdehyde were measured in rats after per os exposure to different doses of mercury (as mercuric chloride) for 30 d.


RESULTS
The production of ascorbic acid and malondialdehyde was related to the dosage of mercuric chloride. Within the group of rats receiving mercuric chloride in the concentration of 10 micromol/L (corresponding to the LD50 of HgCl2), the concentrations of ascorbic acid and malondialdehyde were increased by 22.19 % and by 6.88 % respectively when compared with the control group. The doses of mercuric chloride lower than LD50 reduced the production of ascorbic acid and malondialdehyde statistically.


CONCLUSIONS
Mercury is one of the inducers of oxidative stress in plasma of rats. The oxidation damage caused by mercuric chloride is proven by increased malondialdehyde formation and subsequently compensated by an overproduction of ascorbic acid (Tab. 3, Ref. 22).
Hijova
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E
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Safarikiensis University, Kosice, Slovakia. hijova@pobox.sk
Nistiar
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F
Sipulova
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D001205:Ascorbic Acid