Effect of tocopherol and acetylsalicylic acid on the biochemical indices of blood in dioxin-exposed rats

Abstract

New sources of dioxins and increased dioxin concentrations in the environment, coupled with their increased bioavailability along the food chain and accumulation in adipose tissues, contribute to various adverse long-term biological effects. The purpose of the study was to determine whether tocopherol protects the CNS by decreasing the pro-inflammatory influence of free radicals generated by TCDD; whether acetylsalicylic acid inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators; and whether the combined administration of tocopherol and acetylsalicylic acid to TCDD-exposed rats has a potential CNS-protective effect. The study included 117 rats divided into 8 groups: 75 female and 12 male Buffalo rats aged 8–10 weeks, weighing 140–160g; as well as 30 female rats aged 6 weeks and weighing 120g, which were the offspring of females from each study group. In the experiment, the following substances were used: 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), dosed at 5μg/kg BW and 12.5μg/kg BW, diluted in a 1% DMSO solution at the concentration of 1μg/ml; α-tocopherol acetate, dosed at 30mg/kg BW, in 0.2ml of oil solution; and acetylsalicylic acid, 50mg/kg BW, suspended in 0.5ml of starch solution, administered orally using a feeding tube. Pleurisy was induced by an injection of 0.15ml of 1% carrageenin solution. The use of tocopherol reduces the adverse effects of the inflammatory reaction induced by TCDD. Administering tocopherol improves protein metabolism by reducing protein catabolism, and raises γ-globulin fraction levels. Combined acetylsalicylic acid and tocopherol suppress catabolic processes accompanying inflammation.