Zinc and selenium modulate barium-induced oxidative stress, cellular injury and membrane-bound ATPase in the cerebellum of adult rats and their offspring during late pregnancy and early postnatal periods

Abstract

Context: Barium (Ba) may induce oxidative stress leading to tissues injury.

Objective: Our study investigated the therapeutic efficiency of zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) against neurotoxicity induced by Ba in adult rats and their progeny.

Material and methods: Pregnant rats are exposed either to Ba (67 ppm), Ba + Zn, Ba + S or to only Zn and Se.

Results: In Ba-treated rats, there was an increase of MDA, H₂O₂, AOPP levels and SOD activity in the cerebellum of dams and their pups, a decrease in GPx, CAT, AChE, Na⁺K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities, GSH and NPSH levels. These changes were confirmed by histological damages. Co‐administration of Zn or Se to Ba-treated rats ameliorated the biochemical and histological aspects.

Conclusion: Our results revealed that Zn and Se have shown promising effects against Ba toxicity in the cerebellum of adult rats and their suckling pups.

Keywords:

• Zinc
• selenium
• rats
• barium chloride
• cerebellum

Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to Mrs Raoudha Ben Amar Abdennadher and Mr Chedli Tmar for their skillful technical assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Tunisia.