N-acetyl cysteine and selenium protects mercuric chloride-induced oxidative stress and antioxidant defense system in liver and kidney of rats: a histopathological approach.
Mercury exposure is second-most common cause of metal poisoning which is quite stable and biotransformed to highly toxic metabolites thus eliciting biochemical alterations and oxidative stress. The aim of present study describes the protective effect of selenium either alone or in combination with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) against acute mercuric chloride poisoning. The experiment was carried out in male albino Sprague Dawley rats (n=30) which was divided into five groups. Group 1 served as control. Groups 2-5 were administered mercuric chloride (HgCl2: 12mol/kg, i.p.) once only, group 2 served as experimental control. Animals of groups 3, 4 and 5 were received N-acetyl cysteine (NAC: 0.6mg/kg, i.p.) and selenium (Se: 0.5mg/kg, p.o.) and NAC with Se in combination. Acute HgCl2 toxicity caused significant rise in serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, bilirubin, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, cholesterol, triglycerides, protein, urea, creatinine, uric acid and blood urea nitrogen content. Animals also showed significantly higher mercury content in liver and kidney, significant rise in lipid peroxidation level with concomitant decrease in reduced glutathione content and the antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase after HgCl2 exposure. Results of the present investigation clearly showed that combination therapy with NAC+Se provide maximum protection against mercury toxicity than monotherapy (alone treated groups) by preventing oxidative degradation of biological membrane from metal mediated free radical attacks.
Department of Zoology, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India; Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Laboratory, UNESCO Satellite Center of Trace Element Research and School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. Electronic address: deepmalajoshi953@gmail.com.
Deepmala
D
Joshi
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Laboratory, UNESCO Satellite Center of Trace Element Research and School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Deepak Kumar
DK
Mittal
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Laboratory, UNESCO Satellite Center of Trace Element Research and School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Sangeeta
S
Shukla
Department of Zoology, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Ajai Kumar
AK
Srivastav
Department of Zoology, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sunil Kumar
SK
Srivastav
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D020011:Protective Agents; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D012643:Selenium; D000111:Acetylcysteine
Histology; Mercuric chloride; N-acetyl cysteine; Oxidative stress; Selenium