Subchronic Exposure to Benzene Induced Lipotoxic and Non-Lipotoxic Perturbations of Lipid Metabolic Dynamics in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Benzene is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. In this study, the effect of benzene exposure on lipid metabolism was investigated. Male albino rats were exposed to 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight benzene through oral gavage for 12 weeks. At the end of the exposure, changes in lipid dynamics in the plasma, lipoprotein fractions, liver, and brain were investigated spectrophotometrically. One-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s test was used to analyze the results with p < 0.05 considered significant. Exposure to benzene for 12 weeks significantly (p < 0.05) increased the concentration of plasma free fatty acids and reduced the plasma concentration of cholesterol and triacylglycerol. Benzene exposure also increased the triacylglycerol concentration in the plasma and lipoprotein fractions of the exposed animals. Furthermore, the exposure significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the phospholipid concentrations in the plasma and lipoprotein fractions of the benzene-exposed animals. Benzene exposure significantly (p < 0.05) reduced HDL cholesterol concentration. The exposure also resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) elevation of cholesterol and phospholipids in the liver and brain of the exposed animals. The activity of HMG CoA reductase in the liver and brain of benzene-exposed animals was also enhanced significantly. Findings from the present study indicated that exposure to benzene perturbs lipid metabolic homeostasis through the induction of lipotoxic and non-lipotoxic dyslipidemia. Exposure to benzene may therefore represent an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.