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Acrylamide applied during pregnancy causes the neurotoxic effect by lowering BDNF levels in the fetal brain
Mehmet Erman Erdemli1, M Arif Aladag2, Eyup Altinoz3
1Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Ömer Halisdemir University, Niğde, Turkey.
Objectives:
The aim of this study is to elucidate the possible mechanism of neurotoxic effect of acrylamide (AA) applied during pregnancy on fetal brain development and to show the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on AA toxicity.
Materials And Methods:
Four groups were formed with 9 pregnant rats each as control (C), acrylamide (AA), N-acetylcysteine (NAC), acrylamide plus N-acetylcysteine (AA plus NAC) groups. Caesarian section was implemented on the 20th day of pregnancy. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were analyzed and histopathologic examinations were performed in brain tissues of the fetuses.
Results:
Our data indicated that AA caused necrotic death and hemorrhagic damages in fetal brain tissue with decreasing BNDF levels and increasing oxidative stress. N-acetylcysteine prevented the toxic effects of its on fetal brain (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Our study indicated that acrylamide has toxic effects in the fetal brain and N-acetylcysteine prevents its toxic effect.
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