Abstract
The goal of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of a non-specific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to modulate the toxicity of aluminium chloride (AlCl3). Rats were killed at 3 h and at 30 days after treatments and the striatum was removed. Nitrite, superoxide, superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione were determined. AlCl3 exposure promoted oxidative stress in the striatum. The biochemical changes observed in neuronal tissues show that aluminium acts as pro-oxidant, while the NOS inhibitor exerts antioxidant action in AlCl3-treated rats. We conclude that L-NAME can efficiently protect neuronal tissue from AlCl3-induced toxicity.
MeSH terms
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Aluminum Chloride
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Aluminum Compounds / administration & dosage
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Aluminum Compounds / toxicity*
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Animals
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Brain / drug effects*
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Brain / enzymology*
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Brain / metabolism
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Chlorides / administration & dosage
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Chlorides / toxicity*
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
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Glutathione / metabolism
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Male
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Malondialdehyde / metabolism
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NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / pharmacology
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Neostriatum / drug effects
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Neostriatum / metabolism
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Nitric Oxide Synthase / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Nitrites / metabolism
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Oxidative Stress / drug effects
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Rats
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Rats, Wistar
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Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
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Superoxides / metabolism
Substances
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Aluminum Compounds
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Chlorides
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Nitrites
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Superoxides
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Aluminum Chloride
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Malondialdehyde
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Nitric Oxide Synthase
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Superoxide Dismutase
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Glutathione
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NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester