title: The effect of Nitrogen Mustard on the enzymatic antioxidant defense of rat brain tissue and the therapeutic value of proanthocyanidin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nitrogen Mustard (NM) is an alkylating agent that damages cellular nuclear     DNA after penetrating tissue. This results in cytostatic, mutagenic and     cytotoxic effects. We used biochemical analyses to investigate the effect of NM     gas administered through the dermal and respiratory routes, on the brain cortex     of rats and also tried to show whether the antioxidant Proanthocyanidin (PC)     could decrease this effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 rats were     randomized into three groups: Group I: Control group, Group II: NM group, and     Group III: NM + PC group. The rats were sacrificed 3 days after NM gas exposure.     A segment of the cortical tissue was prepared for biochemical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biochemical analyses of cortical neural tissue regarding the Enzymatic     Antioxidant Defense against NM were performed. The results of these analyses     implied that PC was effective for healing of cortical neural tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings imply that structural changes induced by mustard gas can be     prevented and restored by proanthocyanidin treatment.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Training and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey. tekinerayhan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tekiner
authors.forename: Dogan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.forename: Mehmet Akif
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bayar
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Jale
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karakaya
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008466:Mechlorethamine; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase