Protective Effect of Tert Butyl Hydroquinone on Diazinon-Induced Oxidative Stress in Brain and Heart of Male Rats

Abstract

Background: The present study was designed to investigate the chronic effects of diazinon on oxidative stress markers in brain and heart of rats and the possible protective effects of tert butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), as an antioxidant. Objectives: Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective role of TBHQ on oxidative stress induced by diazinon in brain and heart tissues of rats after 7 weeks exposure to sub-lethal dose of diazinon. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 28 male Wistar rats which were randomly divided into four groups: diazinon group (10 mg/kg, once a day), TBHQ group (0.028 g/kg of diet, once a day), diazinon + TBHQ group (diazinon, 10 mg/kg, once a day + TBHQ, 0.028 g/kg of diet, once a day) and control group (corn oil, as vehicle of diazinon and TBHQ). The animals were treated with diazinon, TBHQ or corn oil orally using a stomach tube for 7 weeks. Results: At the end of 7th week, total thiol groups, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in brain and heart tissues were investigated. A significant increase in MDA levels (P = 0.01) in heart tissue was evident in diazinon group, when compared to control group. Rats of the TBHQ and diazinon + TBHQ groups presented a significant increase in thiol groups (P = 0.01), when compared to control and diazinon groups. In addition, TBHQ administration significantly increased the FRAP level of brain tissue in TBHQ and TBHQ + diazinon groups, when compared with control and diazinon groups, respectively (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that TBHQ treatment could improve antioxidant status in brain and heart tissues of rats with chronic toxicity of diazinon. However, it could not ameliorate the lipid peroxidation sufficiently.