Investigation of protective effect of Vitamin E and oxidative stress in pregnant rats and their pups exposure to Aroclor 1254

It is known that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may cause environmental contamination and threaten on people health because of lipophilic features. PCBs can enter the organism via especially gastrointestinal tract, and cutaneous tissue. It is determined that PCBs transferred to the foetus via placenta and to the newborn via maternal milk. The purpose of the present study was to look into the effect of Aroclor 1254 and Vitamin E on oxidant and antioxidant parameters in pregnant and pup rats.30 adult and 45 pregnant Spraq-Dawley rats (150-180g weighing) were used in this study. Animals were divided in six groups. Vehicle to the 1st (control, n=10) group, Aroclor 1254 at a dose of 2mg/kg/day to the 2nd group, Aroclor 1254 at a dose of 2mg/kg/day plus Vitamin E at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day (n=10) to the 3rd group, vehicle to the 4th group (pregnant control, n=15), Aroclor 1254 at a dose of 2mg/kg/day to the 5th group (pregnant, n=15) and Aroclor 1254 at a dose of 2mg/kg/day plus Vitamin E at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day (n=10) to the 6th group (pregnant, n=15) were subcutaneously injected for 20 days. After injections 10 normal and 10 pregnant rats were decapitated. Pups born from the rest of five rats were allowed with their mothers to grow four weeks. At the end of this period, these pups were also decapitated. Blood, liver, kidney, brain and heart samples were obtained and malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-tranferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) parameters were analyzed.Aroclor 1254 administration lowered the MDA levels in pregnant and pups but did not affect in normal rats in plasma. Significant falls in GSH levels were determined in Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group in pregnant and normal rats. Also in Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group in normal rats, GSH-Px level increased while GR activity was decreased in pregnant rats. Both GSH-Px and CAT activities were lowered in Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group while GSH-Px activity was decreased in pup Aroclor 1254 group.MDA levels were no different in Aroclor 1254 group in normal and pregnant rats? liver. Aroclor 1254 caused an increase on MDA level in pups. Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E application decreased MDA level in all groups. Vitamin E supporting prevented the increase in pup liver tissue. GR and CAT activity in Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group decreased in normal rat liver tissue. In the same group, GSH-Px, CAT and SOD activities and GSH level increased in pregnant rats. GST activity decreased while GSH level increased in Aroclor 1254 in pups. In Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group, GSH level and GSH-Px activity increased compared to control and GR, CAT and SOD activities were decrease.MDA levels both Aroclor 1254 administration in normal rat and Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E applications in normal and pregnant rat decreased in renal tissues. There was no difference on MDA level in pups. GR activity in Aroclor 1254 group was lower while SOD activity was high in normal rats in renal tissue. At the same group in pups, GST, GSH-Px and CAT activities elevated.MDA levels in brain in Aroclor 1254 group in both normal and pregnant rats didn?t change, but MDA level in Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group decreased. MDA level in pups were increased. Vitamin E adding couldn?t prevent the increase on MDA level in brain. SOD activity in brain tissue was lower in Aroclor 1254 group in normal rats. We determined that there was an increase in GR activity and there was a decrease in CAT and SOD activity in Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group in normal rats. GST activity lowered in pregnant Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group. GSH level and SOD activity decreased and GST activity increased in Aroclor 1254 and Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E groups in pups.We didn?t find any difference in MDA level in normal and pregnant rat heart tissues. As for pups, MDA level did not changed in Aroclor 1254 group but was lower in Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group. We observed in heart tissues that GSH level was lower in Aroclor 1254 group and GST activity decreased in Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group in normal rat and GR and CAT activities were lower both of the groups. In pregnant rats, GST activities decreased in Aroclor 1254 and Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E groups but GSH-Px activity increased only in Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group. It was found out in pups that GSH-Px activity decreased in Aroclor 1254 group, and GSH and SOD activity increased in Aroclor 1254+Vitamin E group and CAT activity was high in both group.In conclusion, it was determined that Aroclor 1254 has different and harmful effect on oxidant and anti-oxidant systems in all the groups. The determining of an increase on MDA levels in liver and brain tissues of pups that mothers exposed to Aroclor 1254 in pregnancy is an obvious evidence of oxidant damage especially in these pups.Key words: Aroclor 1254, Pregnancy, Oxidative stress, Rat pup and Vitamin E