Investigation of the protective role of rutin against copper sulfate-induced liver damage in baby rats through oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress

Copper sulfate is a chemical substance widely used in the world and in Turkey. The number of studies conducted on young rats regarding this chemical compound, which has a wide range of uses from industry to agriculture, is quite low. This study focused on the possible effects of rutin, which may be a new therapeutic intervention potential in the relationship between copper sulfate-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and liver damage. As a result of the study, we tried to explain the histological effects of rutin against copper sulfate-induced ERS. 28 Sprague Dawley breed young male rats, 4-5 weeks old, weighing 70-100 g, obtained from Erciyes University Experimental and Clinical Research Center (DEKAM) were used for the study. The rats used in the study were randomly divided into 4 equal groups (n=7) as control group, copper sulfate group, rutin group, and rutin+copper sulfate group. At the end of the experiment, histopathological changes in liver tissues taken from young rats and immunohistochemical ATF4, caspase 3 and phosphorylated JNK proteins were evaluated. In addition, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) and Total Oxidant Status (TOS) analysis were performed by ELISA method. Histopathologically, while a similar image was observed in the control group in the rutin group, a reduced form of the damage observed in the copper sulfate group was observed in the rutin+copper sulfate group. In immunohistochemical analysis, we found that there was a significant (p<0.05) difference between the staining percentages observed in ATF4, caspase 3 and phosphorylated JNK proteins, copper sulfate and rutin+copper sulfate preparations in the routine groups and the staining percentages in the control and routine groups were quite close to each other. The obtained data show that the rutin agent has the potential to be a protective molecule against copper sulfate-induced liver damage.