Regional accumulation of aluminium in the rat brain is affected by dietary vitamin E

The regional accumulation of aluminium in the brain of male albino Wistar rats was investigated following 4 weeks of administration by intraperitoneal injection of aluminium lactate (10mg aluminium/kg body weight). The consequences of concomitant dietary vitamin E (5, 15, or 20 mg vitamin E/g of food) were also studied. Rat brains were dissected into functional regions, for the measurement of aluminium and markers of oxidative stress. Plasma aluminium levels were increased in all groups of animals receiving aluminium lactate (p < 0.01), and these levels were significantly reduced in rats receiving concomitant vitamin E (p < 0.05). In the group of rats receiving aluminium alone, levels of brain tissue aluminium were increased in all regions of brain examined (p< 0.01). Brain tissue aluminium levels were reduced by concomitant dietary vitamin E. Catalase and reduced glutathione levels were both reduced in several regions of brain in animals treated with aluminium (p < 0.05). Aluminium treatment was not associated with a significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (p > 0.05), although ROS production was attenuated by dietary vitamin E (p < 0.05) in some regions.