Comparative Effects of Antioxidants on Chronic Ethanol-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Hippocampus

Objective: Long-term ethanol exposure can cause serious damages on central nervous system functions. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of several antioxidant agents on chronic ethanol-induced oxidative stress in rat brain.Material and Methods: Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), levels in the brain tissue. Ethanol was given to adult male Wistar rats by a liquid diet for 28 days. Control rats were fed by no ethanol contained izocaloric liquid diet. Melatonin (4 mg), ebselen (20 mg), proantocyanidin (PAC) (100 mg), vitamin E (100 mg) and vitamin C (100 mg) were applied to rats by oral route with gavages for 7 days from 22nd day of ethanol administration. Blood alcohol levels were measured by gas chromatography technique. MDA, SOD and GSH-Px levels were measured in hippocampal tissue.Results: While chronic exposure to ethanol caused a significant increase in MDA level, it significantly decreased both SOD and GSH-Px levels in hippocampal tissue. All antioxidants used in the study significantly reversed both the decrease in SOD and the increase in MDA levels. Vitamin E and vitamin C were ineffective on decreased GSH-Px level in ethanol administered rats.Conclusions: Our results suggest that chronic ethanol exposition causes oxidative stress responses that can be reversed by melatonin, ebselen, PAC, vitamin E and vitamin C treatments in hippocampal area of rat brain. In addition, melatonin, ebselen and PAC were more effective than vitamin E and vitamin C.