Neurobehavioral toxicity of copper sulfate accompanied by oxidative stress and histopathological alterations in chicks' brain

Abstract

The aim is to investigate the sub-acute neurotoxic effects of copper sulfate in chicks on motor and neurobehavioral activity and its relation to oxidative stress and histopathological changes in chick brain tissue. Thirty chicks were employed in this experiment, randomly separated into 5 groups of 6 chicks. They were given the following concentration 2.5, 5, 10, and 15% of LD50. Each of the chicks is put through the following behavioral tests response to tonic immobility test, righting reflex, testing the motor activity of the chicks inside the open field box. Orally LD50 was 772 mg/kg, Recording an inhibition in the animal's movement in the open field and an increase in the chicks' dormancy duration. The effects are directly proportional to the increase in the chicks' dose. Copper sulfate in 2.5, 5, 10, and 15% of the LD50 showed a significant increase in malondialdehyde concentration, while 15% of LD50 recorded a significant decrease in glutathione and cholinesterase activity. All doses substantially decreased total antioxidant capacity in brain and liver tissue. Chick brain of copper sulfate 15% of LD50 shows in the cortex of cerebrum severe gliosis, satellitosis, perivascular and periaxonal edema, necrosis (karyorrhexis) of neuron, and apoptosis. The rest of the concentrations had histopathological alterations proportionate to the rise in the given dose. We concluded from this work that high concentrations of copper sulfate in the brain generated oxidative stress and histopathological alterations, which influenced chicks' neurobehavior and motor activity in the open environment.