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Selenium protects cerebral ischemia in rat brain mitochondria
Mubeen Ahmad Ansari1, Abdullah Shafique Ahmad, Muzamil Ahmad
1Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi-110062, India.
Biological Trace Element Research
|November 2, 2004
Summary
Sodium selenite pretreatment protected against neuronal injury in a rat model of cerebral ischemia. This antioxidant intervention helped maintain key enzyme activities and reduce oxidative stress markers, suggesting a neuroprotective role for selenium.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cellular metabolism generates oxidants, balanced by endogenous antioxidants.
- Oxidative stress and antioxidant imbalance are implicated in neurodegeneration during cerebral ischemia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuroprotective effects of sodium selenite against neuronal injury in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model.
- To evaluate the impact of sodium selenite on antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative stress markers post-ischemia.
Main Methods:
- Rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to induce cerebral ischemia.
- Animals were pretreated with varying doses of sodium selenite.
- Mitochondrial enzyme activities and biochemical markers of oxidative stress were assessed.
Main Results:
- Sodium selenite pretreatment significantly protected the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, MAO-A/B) that were depleted by MCAO.
- The elevated activity of poly(ADP-ribosyl) polymerase and increased lipid peroxidation in MCAO rats were significantly reduced by sodium selenite.
- Decreased glutathione content in MCAO rats was restored by sodium selenite pretreatment.
Conclusions:
- Selenium, as sodium selenite, demonstrates significant neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal injury.
- Sodium selenite helps mitigate oxidative stress by preserving antioxidant enzyme function and reducing lipid peroxidation.
- Dietary selenium may play a beneficial role in preventing neurodegeneration associated with cerebral ischemia.