ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS OF SELENIUM ON HEPATOTOXICITY INDUCED BY CHLORPYRIFOS IN MALE RATS

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of selenium against chlorpyrifos-induced hepatotoxicity in experimental rats. The way of application selected for the study was oral gavage for 28 consecutive days. Wister adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups. The first group was served as a control, whereas the remaining groups were respectively treated with sodium selenite (3 mg/kg b.wt.), chlorpyrifos (13.5 mg/kg b.wt., 1/10 LD 50 ) and a combination of chlorpyrifos and sodium selenite. The exposure of rats to chlorpyrifos promoted oxidative stress resulted in an increase and a decrease of liver malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione levels compared to control, respectively. Also, decreases in liver glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were observed. In addition, plasma transaminases (ALT&AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were increased. A significant decrease in body weight and an increase in absolute and relative liver weights were observed in chlorpyrifos-treated rats compared to the corresponding controls. The co-administration of Se attenuated the biochemical parameters cited above as well as the changes in body and liver weights. Liver histological studies have confirmed the changes observed in biochemical parameters and proved the beneficial role of Selenium. In Conclusion, the use of selenium appeared to be beneficial to rats, to a great extent in attenuating and restoring the oxidative damage sustained by insecticide exposure.