title: Dose-dependent effects of ethanol on lead-induced oxidative stress in rats.
abstract: This study explored the dose-dependent effects of ethanol ingestion during co-exposure with lead in rats. Lead was administered orally, once daily at a dose of 10 mg/kg whereas ethanol was given in drinking water at 3 different doses: 1%, 2%, and 5% along with lead. The exposure continued for 3 months, after which the animals were decapitated and various biochemical assays were carried out. The results show increased oxidative stress in animals co-exposed to lead and ethanol compared with either lead or ethanol alone. A significant decrease in blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity, glutathione (GSH), GSH peroxidase, adenosine triphosphatase, and catalase but a significant increase in reactive oxygen species, oxidized GSH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, and intracellular calcium was noted in lead and ethanol co-exposed animals. The changes were found to be dose dependent in lead plus ethanol exposed animals. Decrease in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in blood was noted, with no significant changes in liver and kidney. Aldehyde dehdrogenase activity decreased significantly in animals exposed to either lead or ethanol but a pronounced depletion was seen in rats co-exposed to lead and ethanol (5%). The results suggest that the combined exposure to lead and ethanol leads to increased oxidative stress and possible initiation of apoptosis in rats.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Defense Research and Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior, India. sjsflora@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S J S
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Flora
authors.forename: Pratibha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dwivedi
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007854:Lead / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D007854:Lead; D000431:Ethanol; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; D005978:Glutathione; D002118:Calcium