Neurobehavioural and biochemical responses associated with exposure to binary waterborne mixtures of zinc and nickel in rats

Publication date: Available online 6 November 2019Source: Environmental Toxicology and PharmacologyAuthor(s): Isaac A. Adedara, Adedayo N. Adegbosin, Michael A. Abiola, Ajibola A. Odunewu, Olatunde Owoeye, Solomon E. Owumi, Ebenezer O. FarombiAbstractEnvironmental and occupational exposure to metal mixtures due to various geogenic and anthropogenic activities poses a health threat to exposed organisms. The outcome of systemic interactions of metals is a topical area of research because it may cause either synergistic or antagonistic effect. The present study investigated the impact of co-exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of waterborne nickel (75 and 150 µg NiCl2/L) and zinc (100 and 200 µg ZnCl2/L) mixtures on neurobehavioural performance of rats. Locomotor, motor and exploratory activities were evaluated using video-tracking software during trial in a novel arena and thereafter, biochemical and histological analyses were performed using the cerebrum, cerebellum and liver. Results indicated that zinc significantly (p < 0.05) abated the nickel-induced locomotor and motor deficits as well as improved the exploratory activity of exposed rats as verified by track plots and heat map analyses. Moreover, zinc mitigated nickel-mediated decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity, elevation in biomarkers of liver damage, levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as well as lipid peroxidation in the exposed rats when compared with control. Additionall...
Source: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research