Zinc Supplementation Reverses Lead-Induced Anxiety-Like Behaviour and Social Deficits in Male Wistar Rats

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Toxicology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Lead is a pervasive environmental neurotoxin.
• Lead exposure disrupts antioxidant defenses and activates inflammatory pathways.
• Effective interventions for lead neurotoxicity are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neuroprotective effects of zinc supplementation against lead-induced neurotoxicity.
• To assess the impact of zinc on behavior, oxidative stress, and inflammation in lead-exposed rats.

Main Methods:

• Male Wistar rats were divided into control, lead-exposed, and lead + zinc supplemented groups.
• Behavioral tests (Open Field, Elevated Plus Maze, Sociability) evaluated anxiety and social behavior.
• Biochemical analyses measured pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and hematological indices.

Main Results:

• Lead exposure significantly increased anxiety, decreased social behavior, elevated IL-1β and TNF-α, and reduced TAC.
• Zinc supplementation counteracted these effects, improving neurobehavioral outcomes.
• Zinc restored antioxidant capacity and modulated inflammatory responses, indicated by increased Neutrophil to Lymphocytes Ratio (NLR).

Conclusions:

• Zinc supplementation demonstrates significant neuroprotective effects against lead-induced neurotoxicity.
• Zinc likely exerts its protective effects by mitigating oxidative stress and suppressing neuroinflammation.
• Findings suggest zinc as a potential therapeutic agent for lead poisoning.