LIPID HYDROPEROXIDE LEVELS, OXIDATIVE STATUS AND GLUCOSE ABSORPTION IN RODENTS FOLLOWING BDE-85 EXPOSURE

Abstract

The Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) are a class of synthetic flame retardant compounds which are available in three commercial forms, penta BDEs, octa BDEs, and deca BDEs. Because of their extensive commercial use they have become widespread environmental contaminants. BDE-85 is a congener of the penta variety; to the best of the authors' knowledge there are no studies reported on the toxicity potential of this compound. This study reports the effects of BDE-85 on the oxidative stress and glucose absorption in rodents. Oxidative stress was measured using oxidative stress markers, lipid hydroperoxides in conjunction with activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and catalase in mice kidney and intestine tissues after exposure to 0.25 mg/kg body weight of BDE-85 via intraperitoneal route for four days. Mice tissues showed significant alterations (p<0.05) in the oxidative stress markers. Lipid hydroperoxide levels were elevated, indicating increased lipid peroxidation, while the activities of GPx, SOD, catalase and GST were reduced despite increased lipid peroxidation pointing to disruption in oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium. In addition to this, glucose absorption and Na+/K+ ATPase activities were studied in rats using isolated small intestinal segments exposed to 5 μg/mL of BDE-85 in vitro. The results showed a significant reduction (-63.97%) in the absorption of glucose through the small intestine along with decreased Na+/K+ ATPase activity, indicating significant disruption in the sodium-dependant glucose absorption process in the small intestine.