Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effect of selenium (Se) and a combination of vitamin E (VE) vitamin C (VC) on pesticides induced biochemical alterations in rat erythrocytes and hepatocytes in vitro. Vitamin E and C and selenium are potential antioxidants, known to be able to protect cells against oxidative damage. In vitro changes in antioxidant systems and protective role of selenium and a combination of vitamin C and vitamin E on oxidative damage in erythrocytes and hepatocytes induced by atrazine (AT), dimethoate (DM), or endosulfan (ES) at three different levels of 10, 20, and 30 mM for each in rat were investigated. Levels of lipid peroxidation (nmoles MDA/mg protein), glutathione content (µmole GSH/mg protein) and glutathione peroxidase level (µmoles NADPH/min/mg protein) were determined in erythrocytes and hepatocytes following treatment. In comparison with the control, pesticides stimulated thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) activity and glutathione peroxidase activity, enhanced the glutathione contents. Treatment with selenium and a combination of vitamin E and/or vitamin C potentially reduced the free radicals in erythrocytes or hepatocytes and ameliorated the oxidative stress induced by such pesticides. The results suggested that pesticides treatment increases in vitrolipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase level and glutathione content by increasing oxidative stress in erythrocytes and hepatocytes of rats and selenium and a combination of vitamin E and vitamin C can reduce this lipoperoxidative effect.

Key words: Oxidative stress, red blood cells (RBCs), hepatocytes, atrazine, dimethoate, endosulfan, lipid peroxidation, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase.