Effect of aspartame on biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in rat blood

Aspartame (ASP) is one of the most widely used nonnutritive sweeteners. This study investigates the chronic effects of ASP on hematological and biochemical parameters, and its effects on the oxidative/antioxidative status in the red blood cells of Wistar albino rats. Rats were provided with ASP (40 mg/kg/daily for six weeks) in drinking water. Increased food and fluid intake was observed in the ASP-treated rats. Total body mass was significantly decreased in the ASP-treated rats. Treatment with ASP caused an increase in the concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and in the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as a decrease in the levels of HDL-cholesterol in the serum. A significant decline in the number of white blood cells (WBC) was observed after ASP uptake. Based on the results we conclude that ASP induces oxidative stress, observed as an alteration of the glutathione redox status, which leads to increased concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxides (LPO) in the red blood cells. Changes in biochemical parameters, lipid metabolism, as well as changes in the levels of oxidative stress markers and the appearance of signs of liver damage indicate that chronic use of ASP can lead to the development of hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and associated diseases

Copper-induced changes of lipid peroxidation and hemato-biochemical parameters in rat blood: Protective role of flavonoids

The effects of subchronic exposure to copper (Cu) on lipid peroxidation, hemato-biochemical parameters, and the possible protective role of flavonoids Quercetin and (-)-Epicatechin were studied. Male Wistar albino rats were treated with Cu (560 mg/L, p.o. as CuCl2·2H2O for 5 weeks) and Quercetin and (-)-Epicatechin (40 mg/kg BW each, i.p., every third day during the last 3 weeks) alone or in combination. Cu increased the concentration of lipid peroxides, decreased the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit values and increased the activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. Coadministration of Quercetin and (-)-Epicatechin with Cu lowered the process of lipid peroxidation and restored examined hemato-biochemical parameters to control values. Our results indicate that Cu induced oxidative damage in erythrocytes, which led to anemia, while Quercetin and (-)-Epicatechin showed a protective effect on the hemato-biochemical processes in the blood of rats

Effects of cisplatin on lipid peroxidation and the glutathione redox status in the liver of male rats: The protective role of selenium

The role of oxidative stress in cisplatin (CP) toxicity and its prevention by pretreatment with selenium (Se) was investigated. Male Wistar albino rats were injected with a single dose of cisplatin (7.5 mg CP/kg b.m., i.p.) and selenium (6 mg Se/kg b.m, as Na2SeO3, i.p.) alone or in combination. The results suggest that CP intoxication induces oxidative stress and alters the glutathione redox status: reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and the GSH/GSSG ratio (GSH RI), resulting in increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) in rat liver. The pretreatment with selenium prior to CP treatment showed a protective effect against the toxic influence of CP on peroxidation of the membrane lipids and an altering of the glutathione redox status in the liver of rats. From our results we conclude that selenium functions as a potent antioxidant and suggest that it can control CP-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Glutathione status in the blood of rats after reticulocytosis induced by phenylhydrazine and bleeding

In this experiment, we compared the in vivo effects of phenylhydrazine (PHZ) and bleeding treatment on the redox status and glutathione antioxidative mechanism parameters in the plasma and red blood cells (RBC) of rats. Results showed a lower level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a higher level of lipid peroxidation and the effective antioxidative role of the glutathione system in the blood of bleeding rats. PHZ-treatment induced higher concentrations of ROS and an accumulation of oxidized glutathione in the plasma, while the glutathione system showed a satisfactory antioxidative capacity in the RBC of rats. When comparing the two anemic groups, the PHZ-treated rats showed marked oxidative stress in the plasma

Alteration of oxidative stress parameters in red blood cells of rats after chronic in Vivo treatment with cisplatin and selenium

In this study we evaluated the possible protective effects of selenium (Se) on hematological and oxidative stress parameters in rats chronically treated with cisplatin (cisPt). Four groups of Wistar albino rats were examined: a control, untreated rats (I), rats treated with Se (II), rats treated with cisPt (III), and rats treated with Se and cisPt (IV). All animals were treated for 5 days successively and killed 24 h after the last treatment. Hematological and oxidative stress parameters were followed in whole blood and red blood cells (RBC). Results showed that the chronic application of Se was followed by a higher number of reticulocytes and platelets, increased lipid peroxidation and GSH content in the RBC. Cisplatin treatment induced depletion of RBC and platelet numbers and an elevation of the superoxide anion, nitrites and glutathione levels. Se and cisPt co-treatment was followed by an elevation of the hematological parameters and the recovery of the glutathione status when compared to the control and cisPt-treated rats

Neuropeptide Y reduces migration capacity of human choriocarcinoma cell line by altering oxidative/antioxidative status

© TÜBİTAK. Reduced migration capacity of trophoblast cells leads to poor placentation and correlates with severe pregnancy disorders such as intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is sympathetic cotransmitter involved in various physiological processes and its levels are significantly increased in preeclamptic pregnancy compared to healthy pregnancy. In this study the prooxidative role of NPY and its effects on migration capacity of human trophoblast cell line JEG-3 were investigated together with the effects of nitric oxide (NO) depletion, a molecule that was shown to play an important role in promoting cell migration. The cells were treated for 24 h (short-term stimulation) and 72 h (long-term stimulation) respectively with 1 nM NPY. Oxidative/antioxidative status and the migration index of cells were measured. The results showed increased concentrations of oxidative stress parameters (O2•-, H2O2) and molecules of the antioxidant defense system (reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione), while the levels of intracellular nitrites (indicators of NO) and cell migration index were significantly decreased in trophoblast cells treated with NPY (both at 24 h and 72 h of exposure) compared to the control cells. These results suggest that NPY may significantly contribute to reduced migration capacity of trophoblast cells by generating oxidative stress and reducing the bioavailability of NO

Protective effects of quercetin and Vitamin C against nicotine-induced toxicity in the blood of Wistar rats

© 2016 Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health. Nicotine is a potential inducer of oxidative stress, through which it can damage numerous biological molecules. The aim of our study was to investigate the prooxidative effects of nicotine and protective (additive or synergistic) effects of quercetin and Vitamin C in the blood of experimental animals, to determine whether the combination of these antioxidants might be beneficial for clinical purposes. Wistar albino rats were receiving intraperitoneal nicotine injection (0.75 mg kg-1 per day) or saline (control group) or nicotine plus quercetin (40 mg kg-1 per day) and Vitamin C (100 mg kg-1 per day) for three consecutive days. On day 4, we determined their blood lipid profile, liver enzymes, oxidative stress parameters, and antioxidative system parameters. Compared to untreated control, nicotine significantly increased total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, triglycerides, liver enzymes (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase) and oxidative stress parameters (superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and lipid peroxide) and decreased HDL-cholesterol, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase/catalase activity. Quercetin + Vitamin C reversed these values significantly compared to the nicotine alone group. Our results confirm that nicotine has significant prooxidative effects that may disrupt the redox balance and show that the quercetin + Vitamin C combination supports antioxidant defence mechanisms with strong haematoprotective activity against nicotine-induced toxicity. In practical terms, this means that a diet rich in Vitamin C and quercetin could prevent nicotine-induced toxicity and could also be useful in the supportive care of people exposed to nicotine

Changes in antioxidant enzyme activities in the livers and gills of three cyprinids after exposure to a cyanobacterial bloom in the Gruza Reservoir, Serbia

We examined the influence of an Aphanizomenon flos-aquae bloom on the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the livers and gills of three cyprinids, Rutilus rutilus (roach), Blicca bjoerkna (white bream) and Carassius gibelio (Prussian carp) from the Gruza Reservoir (Serbia). We also studied tissue- and species-specific differences in the antioxidant response to the cyanobacterial bloom. The activities of total, copper zinc and manganese containing superoxide dismutases (Tot SOD, CuZn SOD, Mn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and the biotransformation phase II enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were determined before and during the cyanobacterial bloom. B. bjoerkna exhibited higher antioxidant response to the cyanobacterial bloom than R. rutilus and C gibelio; liver Tot SOD, CuZn SOD and GST activities increased during the bloom only in this species. Liver Mn SOD activity in all three cyprinids increased during the bloom. A decrease in liver CAT and GSH-Px activities that was detected in all three species may be directly responsible for an enhanced susceptibility of fish to potential oxidative stress caused by the bloom. Tot SOD, CuZn SOD, Mn SOD, GSH-Px, GR and GST activities in gills were also inhibited during the bloom showing that the gills were affected more than the liver. The observed changes in the activities of aforementioned antioxidant enzymes during the cyanobacterial bloom suggest that these parameters could be important biomarkers for ecotoxicological risk in fish that inhabit ecosystems where A. flos-aquae blooms occur. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia {[}173041

Antioxidant parameters in fish white muscle as biomarkers of exposure to a cyanobacterial bloom

This study examines the responses of antioxidant parameters in the white muscle of four freshwater fish species: Rutilus rutilus (roach), Blicca bjoerkna (white bream), Carassius gibelio (Prussian carp) and Perca fluviatilis (European perch) after exposure to a bloom of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (Cyanobacteria) in the Gruza Reservoir in Serbia. The set of analyzed biomarkers included the activities of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and biotransformation phase II enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and the concentrations of total glutathione (GSH) and sulfhydryl (-SH) groups that were measured before and during the bloom. Our results show that SOD activity in C. gibelio and P. fluviatilis, GSH-Px and GST activities in all four fish, GR activity in R. rutilus and C. gibelio and the -SH group concentration in P. fluviatilis markedly decreased during the bloom. The activity of CAT in all four fish and the concentration of GSH in B. bjoerkna and P. fluviatilis significantly increased. The observed changes in nonspecific antioxidant biomarkers in fish muscle (especially CAT, GSH-Px and GST activities) suggest that these parameters could be useful tools in environmental monitoring programs of the freshwater ecosystems where cyanobacterial blooms occur.Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia {[}173041