Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0495
ISSN: 2161-0495
Sumita Halder, Rajarshi Kar, Swapan K Bhattacharya, Pramod K Mediratta and Basu D Banerjee
Background: The increased use of Cr in several anthropogenic activities and subsequent contamination of water and soil is an increasing concern worldwide. It has also recently drawn attention for its widespread use in dietary supplements.
Objective: In this study we proposed to study whether chromium (Cr) could alter the antioxidant enzymes in brain and their gene expression in the in F1 mice when administered to their dams during gestation and whether quercetin could modulate this effect.
Methods: Animals were administered chromium alone and in combination with quercetin for seven days during their gestation period. Their new born pups (F1 mice) were reared till adulthood. The brain tissue of F1 mice was collected and GST (glutathione-S-transferase) and CAT (catalase) activity was measured and fold increase in their respective gene expression was observed using RT-PCR method.
Result: Cr significantly reduced both activity and expression of GST in the brain tissue of F1 generation mice. There was a slight increase in catalase activity and expression on exposure to Cr. Quercetin was observed to significantly enhance the GST and catalase activity as well as increase the gene expression of these enzymes when administered along with Cr.
Conclusion: Our study shows that Cr altered enzyme activity in brain tissue. Quercetin can strengthen the antioxidant system of the cell by affecting expression of antioxidant enzymes at the transcription level and may attenuate the ill effects of exposure to heavy metals.