title: Protective effects of l-glutamine against toxicity of deltamethrin in the cerebral tissue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deltamethrin (DLM) is a broad-spectrum synthetic dibromo-pyrethroid pesticide that is widely used for agricultural and veterinary purposes. However, human exposure to the pesticide leads to neurotoxicity. Glutamine is one of the principal, free intracellular amino acids and may also be an antioxidant. This study was undertaken in order to examine the neuroprotective and antioxidant potential of l-glutamine against DLM toxicity in female Wistar albino rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rats were divided into the following groups (n=10): Group I: control (distilled water; 10 mL/kg, po one dose), Group II: l-glutamine (1.5 g/kg, po one dose), Group III: DLM (35 mg/kg, po one dose), and Group IV: DLM (35 mg/kg, po one dose) and l-glutamine (1.5 g/kg, po one dose after 4 hours). Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 levels and apoptosis were evaluated in brain tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DLM-treated animals had a significant increase in brain biochemical parameters, as well as TOS and TAS. Furthermore, the histopathological examination showed neuronal cell degeneration in the cerebral tissue. l-Glutamine treatment decreased the elevated brain levels of TOS and neuronal cell degeneration. There was no difference in tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  l-Glutamine may reduce the toxic effects of DLM in the cerebral tissue through antioxidant properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sefer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varol
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan Hüseyin
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Uğur
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Çevik
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yaşar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ibiloğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ekinci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aslıhan Okan
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ibiloğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balduz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Demet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fesih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aktar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Ufuk
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Aluçlu
keywords: deltamethrin; l-glutamine; rat