Plasma vitamin E and selenium levels in rats with head trauma.
BACKGROUND
Free radicals play an important role in brain damage induced by a head trauma. In this study, we examined the prevention of brain damage that occurs after oxidative stress in rats that had undergone an experimental head trauma and the determination of plasma levels of vitamin E and selenium, which are recognized as antioxidant agents.


METHODS
In this study, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Rats were divided into 2 groups. In the first group (control group, n = 10), pretraumatic plasma selenium and vitamin E levels were investigated and rats were not traumatized. In the second group (trauma group, n = 10), posttraumatic plasma selenium and vitamin E levels were investigated at the 6th and 24th hours in traumatized rats.


RESULTS
In the control group, the plasma selenium level was 107 +/- 8.113 microg/L, whereas vitamin E level was 1.310 +/- 0.048 mg/dL. In the trauma group, the plasma selenium level was 79.93 +/- 3.130 microg/L at the 6th hour and 74.74 +/- 2.947 microg/L at the 24th hour, whereas the vitamin E level was 1.211 +/- 0.056 mg/dL at the 6th hour and 1.136 +/- 0.044 mg/dL at the 24th hour. Normal plasma selenium and vitamin E levels were significantly reduced in the early period after trauma.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of oxidative stress that occurs directly after a head trauma, vitamin E and selenium depletion occurs in the early period. This condition supports the idea that brain damage can be reduced if decreased antioxidants are replaced when a head trauma occurs. We believe that these findings will guide and assist in future studies to develop clinical management strategies to prevent brain damage induced by head trauma.
Kiymaz
Nejmi
N
Department of Neurosurgery, Yuzunci Yil University Medical School, Van 65200, Turkey. nejmikiymaz@yahoo.co.uk
Ekin
Suat
S
Yilmaz
Nebi
N
D000818:Animals; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000097:blood*
D014810:Vitamin E; D012643:Selenium