PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the oxidative stress in male Wistar rats treated subchronically with ethanol.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ethanol was applied orally for 45 days. The daily dose of 7.9 g/kg as a 20% solution was divided in two equal treatments. Oxidative stress was evaluated by the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), markers of lipid peroxidation. TBARS were determined in rat serum, liver, kidneys, brain and testes.
RESULTS: Ethanol-induced toxicity was evidenced by a significantly lower (p<0.001) weight gain of ethanoltreated rats in comparison with distilled water-treated controls. TBARS in ethanol-treated rats were significantly increased (p<0.05) in serum (59.33±7.5 nmol/mL vs the control value of 41.55±3.9 nmol/mL) and in testes (123.98±13.5 nmol/g vs the control value of 89.25±7.5 nmol/g). They were, however, not significantly elevated in the liver, kidneys and brain. This effect in the liver was consistent with the insignificant elevation of liver enzymes in the serum of ethanol-treated rats.
CONCLUSION: The results from this study showed that in ethanol-treated rats, lipid peroxidation products were mostly increased in serum and testes as well the latter being more exposed to oxidative stress than other organs examined such as liver, kidneys and brain.
Scripta Scientifica Medica 2013; 45(1): 35-39.
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