Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate the influence of α-lipoic acid treatment in rats exposed to malathion. Forty adult male rats were used in this study and distributed into four groups. Animals of group 1 were untreated and served as control. Rats of group 2 were orally given malathion at a dose level of 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) for a period of one month. Experimental animals of group 3 were orally given α-lipoic acid at a dose level of 20 mg/kg BW and after 3 hours exposed to malathion at the same dose given to group 2. Rats of group 4 were supplemented with α-lipoic acid at the same dose given to group 3. The activities of serum glutamic oxaloacetic acid transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic acid transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and acid phosphatase (ACP), and the values of creatinine, urea, and uric acid were statistically increased, while the values of total protein and total albumin were significantly decreased in rats exposed to malathion. Moreover, administration of malathion for one month resulted in damage of liver and kidney structures. Administration of α-lipoic acid before malathion exposure to rat can prevent severe alterations of hematobiochemical parameters and disruptions of liver and kidney structures. In conclusion, this study obviously demonstrated that pretreatment with α-lipoic acid significantly attenuated the physiological and histopathological alterations induced by malathion. Also, the present study identifies new areas of research for development of better therapeutic agents for liver, kidney, and other organs' dysfunctions and diseases.
Highlights
Organophosphorus compounds are widely used in agriculture, medicine, and industry
Significant elevations in the levels of serum glutamic oxaloacetic acid transaminase (GOT) (86.8%), glutamic pyruvic acid transaminase (GPT) (62.8%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (21.9%), acid phosphatase (ACP) (26.9%), and creatinine (22.4%) were observed in rats exposed to malathion plus α-lipoic acid, while the levels of total protein, total albumin, urea, and uric acid were statistically unchanged compared with control values
An enlargement of the sinusoids and vacuole formations in hepatocytes, leucocytic infiltrations, dilation, and congestion of blood vessels with hemorrhage were noted in liver of rats exposed to malathion. α-Lipoic acid treatment brought back the cellular arrangement around the central vein and reduced necrosis (Figure 2(d))
Summary
Organophosphorus compounds are widely used in agriculture, medicine, and industry. Organophosphorus pesticides, in addition to their intended effects like the control of insects or other pests, are sometimes found to affect nontarget organisms including humans [1, 2]. A possible carcinogen, implicated in vision loss, causing myriad negative health effects in human and animal studies, damaging nontarget organisms, and containing highly toxic impurities, malathion has a legacy of serious problems [9]. An attempt was made to elucidate the possible protective effect of α-lipoic acid treatment on malathioninduced physiological and histopathological alterations in rats. The animals were orally given α-lipoic acid (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo, USA) solution at a dose level of 20 mg/kg BW and after 3 hours treated with malathion at the same dose given to group 2. Values of less than 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant
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