Assessment of benzene induced oxidative impairment in rat isolated pancreatic islets and effect on insulin secretion.
Benzene (C6H6) is an organic compound used in petrochemicals and numerous other industries. It is abundantly released to our environment as a chemical pollutant causing widespread human exposure. This study mainly focused on benzene induced toxicity on rat pancreatic islets with respect to oxidative damage, insulin secretion and glucokinase (GK) activity. Benzene was dissolved in corn oil and administered orally at doses 200, 400 and 800mg/kg/day, for 4 weeks. In rats, benzene significantly raised the concentration of plasma insulin. Also the effect of benzene on the release of glucose-induced insulin was pronounced in isolated islets. Benzene caused oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation, and also reduced the cell viability and total thiols groups, in the islets of exposed rats. In conclusion, the current study revealed that pancreatic glucose metabolism is susceptible to benzene toxicity and the resultant oxidative stress could lead to functional abnormalities in the pancreas.
Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, International Campus, Tehran, Iran.
Haji
H
Bahadar
Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, International Campus, Tehran, Iran.
Faheem
F
Maqbool
School of Pharmacy, Ardebil University of Medical Sciences, Ardebil, Iran.
Sara
S
Mostafalou
Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, International Campus, Tehran, Iran.
Maryam
M
Baeeri
Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mahban
M
Rahimifard
Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mona
M
Navaei-Nigjeh
Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, International Campus, Tehran, Iran; Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Mohammad.Abdollahi@UToronto.Ca.
Mohammad
M
Abdollahi
D000818:Animals; D001554:Benzene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D005941:Glucokinase / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D005941:Glucokinase; D001554:Benzene
Benzene; Environmental pollutants; Insulin resistance; Oxidative stress; Pancreatic islets