Impact of AlCl₃-Induced Neurotoxicity in Protein-Malnourished Sprague-Dawley Rats

摘要

Aluminium is an ubiquitous and one of the most abundant element on earth. It is known as a toxic agent with its effect predominantly on the central nervous system. Aluminium toxicity and protein deficiency resulted in impairment of the neurobehavioural development, as well as learning. The objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of AlCl_(3) –neurotoxicity on protein malnutrition in male rats. Thirty two young adult male albino rats (142.73 ± 3.09g) were divided equally into four groups. The control group was fed rat chow and water, while the other three groups were intraperitoneally administered with AlCl_(3) at a dose of 4.2mg/kg body weight per day for 28 days, and were fed 18%, 5.87% or 29.3% protein diet respectively. The brain and liver tissues were excised and the serum collected for biochemical analysis. The short and long term memories as an index of cognitive function were determined in rats administered aluminium and protein diets using Shuttle box. The activities of antioxidant enzymes and acetyl cholinesterase, levels of brain acetylcholine and glutamate of rats exposed to aluminium and protein diets were assayed. There was a decrease in the body weight and cognitive function of rats administered AlCl_(3) and low protein diet as compared to the control. The administration of AlCl_(3) in rats significantly increased serum activities of alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The activities of the antioxidant enzymes were significantly reduced in the protein deficient diet fed rats as compared to the control, while it increased lipid peroxidation in brain and liver tissues. The brain activities of acetyl cholinesterase, and levels of brain acetylcholine and Y-amino butyric acid (GABA) were significantly reduced in the low protein fed rats, while the brain glutamate level was increased. Therefore, data of the study suggest that adequate dietary protein consumption may alleviate the adverse effect of neurotoxicity associated with aluminium exposure in rats.