Protection Effects of Carvedilol Against Stress-induced Oxidative Damage in Rats Brain

The objective of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that carvedilol having neuroprotective activities with as a potent antioxidant properties by measuring glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in brain of restraint stressed rats. Repeated immobilization of adult male Wistar albino rats for 4 h daily for 5 consecutive days per week was used as a model to induce oxidative stress. A time course study was conducted for 1, 2 and 3 consecutive weeks to detect the peak time of stress and on that the drug response. Carvedilol (2.5 mg kg-1, i.p.) was treated 30 min before each immobilization session. Animals were sacrificed immediate after the last stress session of each week. Brain and liver tissues were analyzed for GSH, MDA, RNA and total protein concentrations. Repeated immobilization stress induced a significant decrease in the level of GSH, RNA and total protein, while the levels of MDA were found elevated in brain and liver tissues as compared to controls. Parallel treatment with carvedilol to restraint rats found affective in enhancing the levels of GSH, RNA and total proteins and decreasing MDA concentrations in brain and liver tissues. In conclusion, carvedilol can be use as a potential drug to treat stress-induced oxidative damage.