Augmentation of Aluminum-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Cerebrum by Presence of Pro-oxidant (Graded Doses of Ethanol) Exposure

Both aluminum and ethanol are pro-oxidants and neurotoxic. Considering the possibilities of co-exposure and sharing mechanisms of producing neurotoxicity, the present study was planned to identify the level of aluminum-induced oxidative stress in altered pro-oxidant (ethanol exposure) status of cerebrum. Male rats were coexposed to aluminum and ethanol for 4 weeks. After the exposure period, cerebral levels of protein, reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (TBARS) were measured. Activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione perioxidase (GPx) of cerebrum were estimated. In most of the cases significant correlations were observed between the alterations and graded ethanol doses, suggesting a dose-dependency in pushing the oxidant equilibrium toward pro-oxidants. Aluminum is found to influence significantly all the studied parameters of oxidative stress. Likewise, ethanol also influenced these parameters significantly, except GR, while the interaction between ethanol and aluminum could significantly influence only the GSH content and GR activity of cerebrum. Present study demonstrate that coexposure of aluminum with pro-oxidant might favor development of aluminum-induced oxidative stress in cerebrum. This observation might be helpful in understanding of mechanism of neurodegenerative disorders and ameliorate them.