title: Effect of lycopene on nephrotoxicity induced by mercuric chloride in rats.
abstract: Oxidative stress is an important molecular mechanism for kidney injury in mercury poisoning. We studied lycopene, a potent carotenoid found in tomatoes due to its large antioxidant properties, and also evaluated the ability of lycopene to prevent HgCl(2) nephrotoxicity. Rats were injected with HgCl(2) (0 or 5 mg/kg body weight, subcutaneously) 6 hr after lycopene administration (0, 10, 25 or 50 mg/kg by gavage) and were killed 12 hr after HgCl(2) exposure. HgCl(2)-induced inhibition of delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase activity (approximately 35%) and increase of lipid peroxidation in kidney (approximately 37%) were prevented by lycopene. However, lycopene did not prevent the increase of plasma creatinine levels (approximately 123%) and renal tubular necrosis induced by HgCl(2). Glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were enhanced (approximately 71% and approximately 41%), while superoxide dismutase activity was depressed (approximately 44%) in HgCl(2)-treated rats when compared to control and these effects were prevented by lycopene. Our results indicate that although lycopene did not prevent HgCl(2)-induced renal failure, it could play a beneficial role against HgCl(2) toxicity by preventing lipid peroxidation and changes in the activity of delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase and antioxidant enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Post-graduate Program on Biochemical Toxicology, Center of Natural and Exact Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Augusti
authors.forename: Greicy M M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Conterato
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Somacal
authors.forename: Lídia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Einsfeld
authors.forename: Adriano T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Fernando Y M
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Hosomi
authors.forename: Dominguita L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Graça
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Emanuelli
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002338:Carotenoids; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D003404:Creatinine; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; D000077276:Lycopene