The protective effects of omega-3 fatty acid against toluene-induced neurotoxicity in prefrontal cortex of rats.
OBJECTIVE
Toluene is used as an organic solvent, and it has neurotoxic effects. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid required for brain development. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of omega-3 fatty acid against toluene-induced neurotoxicity in prefrontal cortex of rats.


METHODS
A total of 21 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups with seven rats in each group. Rats in group I were the controls. Toluene was intraperitoneally injected into the rats of group II with a dose of 0.5 ml/kg. Rats in group III received omega-3 fatty acid with a dose of 0.4 g/kg/day while exposed to toluene. After 14 days, all the rats were killed by decapitation. Enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were spectrophotometrically studied in the prefrontal cortex of rats.


RESULTS
Enzymatic activities of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased, and MDA levels were significantly increased in rats treated with toluene compared with the controls. However, the increased SOD and decreased GSH-Px enzymatic activities and MDA levels were detected in the rats administered with omega-3 fatty acid while exposed to toluene.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this experimental study indicate that omega-3 fatty acid treatment can prevent toluene-induced neuronal damage in the prefrontal cortex of rats.
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Tayfur Ata Sokmen, Hatay, Turkey. sedatmeydan@yahoo.com
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D000818:Animals; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012997:Solvents / Q000633:toxicity*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014050:Toluene / Q000633:toxicity*
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012997:Solvents; D014050:Toluene; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase