The protective effect of sesame oil against cypermethrin-induced brain toxicity was studied. Female rats were orally treated with cypermethrin, sesame oil and their combination for 30 consecutive days. The results showed that cypermethrin increased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and decreased glutathione (GSH) and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes. Brain injury was confirmed by histopathological changes and DNA damage. Also, the reduction in the activities of acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase (AChE & MAO), total protein, albumin and body weight, and the induction in triacylglycerol and cholesterol have been observed due to cypermethrin toxicity. Animals treated with sesame oil and cypermethrin together showed that brain TBARS and plasma triacylglycerol and cholesterol returned to the control level which indicating a protective effect of sesame oil. Also, sesame oil was able to attenuate the decrease in total protein, albumin, triacylglycerol and cholesterol, GSH, AChE and antioxidant enzymes induced by cypermethrin. In addition, sesame oil protected the brain histological changes and fragmentation of genomic DNA in animals treated with cypermethrin. The present results showed a protective effect of sesame oil against the cypermethrin induced brain toxicity and this could be associated mainly with the attenuation of the oxidative stress and the preservation in antioxidant enzymes.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.