Beneficial Effects of Curcumin Inmaternal and Fetal Oxidativestress and Brain Damage Induced by Gestational Lead Administration
Hamid A. Saleh1
, Gamal S. Abd El-Aziz1, Hehsam N. Mustafa1, Magdy El-Fark1, Jawad Mansour Tashkandi6, Anas Hassan Alzahrani1, Ahmed Mal3, Magda AboRass4 and Abdel Halim Deifalla51Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
2Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
3Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
4Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
5Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain.
6Faculty of Medicine, Rabigh, KSA.
Corresponding Author E-mail: hesham977@hotmail.com
Abstract: This study was planned to explore the protective role of curcumin (Cur) against maternal and fetal oxidative stress and cerebral damage induced by lead (Pb) during pregnancy. Positively pregnant female rats were divided into seven groups: control group, Cur group (300 mg/kg of Cur/b.wt.), DMSO group (50% DMSO), two Pb-treated groups (exposed to 160 and 320 mg/kg b.wt./day of Pb acetate, respectively), and two groups treated with both Pb and Cur (exposed to Pb as previous groups together with 300 mg/kg b.wt./day of Cur). Treatments through oral gavage once a day started from gestation day 1 (GD1) till day 20 (GD20), where the mother rats of different experimental groups were sacrificed to obtain the fetuses. Different chemical parameters were assessed. Brain specimens of mother and fetal groups were processed with examination. The results displayed that Pb administration to pregnant rats resulted in a dose-dependent toxicity for both mothers and fetuses. Also, there was a significant rise in lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities in the brains of the different Pb-treated groups. The histological examination of the brain of treated dams and fetuses showed marked alterations. Co-treatment of Cur along with Pb caused a significant decrease in Pb levels as compared with those treated with Pb alone, improving the oxidative condition with amelioration of the brain’s histopathological changes. Co-administration of Cur could have ameliorative effect against Pb-induced neurotoxicity through the reduction of oxidative stress and reversal of histopathological changes.
Keywords: Lead; Oxidative Stress; Brain; curcumin; Fetal toxicity Back to TOC