Protective effects of a superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetic compound against paraquat pneumotoxicity in rat lung.
OBJECTIVE
EUK-134 is one of the most promising of the superoxide dismutase (SOD)/catalase mimetic compounds. The antioxidant effects of EUK-134 were tested in a rat model of paraquat pneumotoxicity.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats (n = 72) were divided into three groups: group 1, controls; group 2, paraquat alone; group 3, paraquat + EUK-134. Paraquat dichloride was administered per os at a dose of 80 mg/kg. EUK-134 was injected intraperitoneally at 10 mg/kg 2 h before the paraquat and again 4 h later at 5 mg/kg.


RESULTS
On days 1, 3 and 5 after treatment with paraquat alone the LDH activity increased (P = 0.0001, P = 0.00001 and P = 0.03, respectively), and the total protein content increased (P = 0.00002, P = 0.001 and P = 0.01, respectively). The levels of acid phosphatase (AcP) in BAL fluid increased on days 1 and 3 (P = 0.006 and P = 0.04). In lung homogenates paraquat alone increased SOD activity on day 1 and decreased it on days 3 and 5. Combined treatment with paraquat and EUK-134 elevated LDH activity on day 3 (significantly less than paraquat alone) and day 5, elevated the total protein content on day 5 only, and did not change AcP activity. The combination of both agents did not alter SOD activity and decreased catalase activity on day 5 significantly less than treatment with paraquat alone (P = 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
EUK-134, a superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetic compound decreased the pneumotoxic effect of paraquat in rats.
Shopova
Veneta L
VL
Sectors of Disaster Medicine, Medical University-Pleven, Pleven, Bulgaria. veneshop@yahoo.com
Dancheva
Violeta Y
VY
Salovsky
Pencho T
PT
Stoyanova
Angelina M
AM
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D002374:Catalase; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012459:Salicylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
D000975:Antioxidants; C433928:EUK-134; D006540:Herbicides; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012459:Salicylates; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010269:Paraquat