Protective effect of vitamin C on biochemical alterations induced by subchronic co-administration of chlorpyrifos and lead in Wistar rats

Abstract

Oxidative stress is one of the molecular mechanisms involved in chlorpyrifos (CPF) and lead poisoning. The present study investigated the role of vitamin C in mitigating the biochemical alterations induced by co-administration of CPF and lead. Forty adult male Wistar rats divided into 4 groups of 5 animals in each group were used for this study. Group I was dosed with corn oil (2 ml/kg) while group II was given vitamin C (100 mg/kg). Group III was co-administered CPF ( 4.25 mg/kg~ 1/20th LD50) and Pb (225 mg/kg~1/20th LD50) while group IV was pretreated with vitamin C (100 mg/kg) and then co-administered with CPF (4.25 mg/kg) and Pb (225 mg/kg), 30 min later. The regimens were administered once daily by oral gavage for a period of 9 weeks. The rats were sacrificed and sera obtained from the blood samples were analyzed for the total proteins, albumin, globulin, electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl-), urea and liver malonaldehyde concentrations. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase were evaluated. The result showed that alterations in the biochemical parameters induced by co-exposure to CPF and lead were mitigated by pretreatment with vitamin C.