Penconazole alters redox status, cholinergic function and lung’s histoarchitecture of adult rats: Reversal effect of vitamin E

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 2018-06, Vol.102, p.645-652
• Main Authors: Chaâbane, Mariem, Elwej, Awatef, Ghorbel, Imen, Chelly, Sabrine, Mnif, Hela, Boudawara, Tahia, Ellouze Chaabouni, Semia, Zeghal, Najiba, Soudani, Nejla
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase - metabolism; Animals; Antioxidants - metabolism; Body Weight - drug effects; Cholinergic Agents - adverse effects; Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Lung; Lung - drug effects; Lung - pathology; Lung Injury - pathology; Male; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Organ Size - drug effects; Oxidation-Reduction - drug effects; Oxidative stress; Penconazole; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Triazoles - adverse effects; Vitamin E; Vitamin E - pharmacology; Vitamin E - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.03.113

[Display omitted] The present study pertains to the possible adverse effects of penconazole exposure on the lung of adult rats, and to the potential ability of vitamin E (Vit E) in mitigating the toxicity induced by this fungicide. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six animals each: Group I (Controls): rats drank distilled water; Group II (PEN): rats received, by gavage, 50 mg/kg body weight (1/40 LD50) of penconazole every 2 days during 10 days; Group III (Vit E): rats received daily 100 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg body weight during 10 days by gavage; and Group IV (Vit E + PEN): rats received both vitamin E (100 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg body weight) and penconazole (50 mg/kg body weight), being vitamin E given as a daily dosage and penconazole every 2 days, by gavage during 10 days. Results showed that penconazole induced oxidative stress in the lung demonstrated by an increase in malondialdehyde (+77%), hydrogen peroxide (+58%) and advanced oxidation protein product (+22%) levels, as compared to the controls. Furthermore, a decrease in the activities of catalase (−41%), superoxide dismutase (−45%), glutathione peroxidase (−23%) and acetylcholinesterase (−67%), and an increase in the levels of non-protein thiols (+17%), glutathione (+7%) and vitamin C (+44%) were registered. Abnormalities in lung histological sections such as alveolar edema, infiltration of inflammatory cells (leukocytes) and emphysema, were also observed following penconazole exposure. Vitamin E ameliorated the biochemical parameters, as well as the histological impairments induced by this fungicide. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that vitamin E, a natural antioxidant, was effective in alleviating penconazole-induced lung damage in Wistar rats.