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Effects of Flaxseed Oil on Lead Acetate-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats

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Abstract

It is well known that chronic exposure to lead (Pb+2) alters a variety of behavioral tasks in rats and mice. Here, we investigated the effect of flaxseed oil (1,000 mg/kg) on lead acetate (20 mg/kg)-induced brain oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in rats. The levels of Pb+2, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide (NO), and reduced glutathione (GSH) and the activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined in adult male albino rats. The level of Pb+2 was markedly elevated in brain and blood of rats. This leads to enhancement of lipid peroxidation and NO production in brain with concomitant reduction in GSH, CAT, SOD, GR, GST, and GPx activities. These findings were associated with DNA fragmentation. In addition, lead acetate induced brain injury as indicated by histopathological changes of the brain. Treatment of rats with flaxseed oil resulted in marked improvement in most of the studied parameters as well as histopathological features. These findings suggest to the conclusion that flaxseed oil significantly decreased the adverse harmful effects of lead acetate exposure on the brain as well as Pb+2-induced oxidative stress.

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding the work through the research group project No. RGP-VPP-002.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Helwan, Egypt

    Ahmed E. Abdel Moneim & Mohamed A. Dkhil

  2. Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed A. Dkhil & Saleh Al-Quraishy

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  1. Ahmed E. Abdel Moneim
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  2. Mohamed A. Dkhil
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  3. Saleh Al-Quraishy
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Correspondence to Ahmed E. Abdel Moneim.

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Abdel Moneim, A.E., Dkhil, M.A. & Al-Quraishy, S. Effects of Flaxseed Oil on Lead Acetate-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 144, 904–913 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9055-4

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