Abstract
People who drink water contaminated with atrazine (ATR) over many years can experience problems with their cardiovascular system. Lycopene (LYC) has been shown to exhibit cardiovascular disease preventive effects. However, chemopreventive potential of LYC against ATR-induced cardiotoxicity remains unclear. To determine the effects of ATR and/or LYC on heart, mice were treated with ATR (50 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg) and/or LYC (5 mg/kg) by intragastric administration for 21 days. Histopathological and biochemical analyses, including analysis of ion concentrations (Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+), ATPases (Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase) activities and the transcription of their subunits, were performed on heart. The results revealed that ATR led to decreased Creative Kinase (CK) activity and increased histological alterations. Furthermore, a significant change in Na+, K+ and Ca2+ content and the down-regulation of Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities and the mRNA expression of their subunits were observed in ATR-exposed mice. Notably, supplementary LYC significantly protected the heart against ATR-induced damage. In conclusion, ATR induced cardiotoxicity by modulating cardiac ATPase activity and the transcription of its subunits, thereby triggering ionic disturbances. However, supplementary LYC significantly combated ATR-induced cardiotoxicity via the regulation of ATPase activity and subunit transcription. Thus, LYC exhibited a significant chemopreventive potential against ATR-induced cardiotoxicity.
Highlights
People who drink water contaminated with atrazine (ATR) over many years can experience problems with their cardiovascular system
There were no significant alterations in body weight or the relative weight of the heart in the ATR and/or LYC treatment groups compared to the control group after 21 days of treatment
These results indicated that the effects of ATR on cardiac histological damage could be ameliorated by the administration of LYC + ATR
Summary
People who drink water contaminated with atrazine (ATR) over many years can experience problems with their cardiovascular system. Lycopene (LYC) has been shown to exhibit cardiovascular disease preventive effects. Chemopreventive potential of LYC against ATR-induced cardiotoxicity remains unclear. Supplementary LYC significantly protected the heart against ATR-induced damage. ATR induced cardiotoxicity by modulating cardiac ATPase activity and the transcription of its subunits, thereby triggering ionic disturbances. Supplementary LYC significantly combated ATR-induced cardiotoxicity via the regulation of ATPase activity and subunit transcription. LYC exhibited a significant chemopreventive potential against ATR-induced cardiotoxicity. Previous studies have shown that the effects of ATR are mostly caused by oxidative stress[6,7]. These adverse effects induced by ATR, including oxidative stress and endocrine disruption, have been extensively studied. Despite great efforts in studying the toxicity of ATR to the heart, relatively little consideration have been given to the toxicity of ionic disorders. Little is known about the role of LYC in the regulation of ionic homeostasis and the underlying chemopreventive mechanisms of LYC during ATR exposure
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